Study for Lady Elizabeth Monson portrait,

1777–78

Romney was among the most fashionable portraitists of the late eighteenth century, finding favor with celebrities and aristocrats alike. A prolific draftsman, he usually made quick sketches rather than elaborate studies, preferring to compose directly on the canvas. This drawing most closely resembles a portrait of Elizabeth Capel (1755–1834) painted soon after her marriage to John, third Lord Monson, in 1777. Bold, calligraphic brushstrokes define the sitter’s form as well as the balustrade at the lower right, while other areas—such as tree trunks—are rendered with a less saturated brush, creating a blurred effect. Though the woman’s face and upper body have not been defined in ink, they are suggested by the graphite marks in this area.