Currently not on view
Study for the portrait of a man,
late 1770s
George Romney, 1734–1802; born Dalton-in-Furness, United Kingdom; died Kendal, United Kingdom
x1948-1621
Although the subject of this portrait is unknown, the sitter’s long robe likely designates him as a "peer," or a member of the British nobility. Romney’s use of a strikingly dark, nearly opaque wash evokes the robe’s rich and heavy material—likely velvet—and the areas of paper that Romney left bare reflect the clean white of the man’s shirt, stockings, and breeches. What appears to be a sketchily rendered globe on the table likely would have been intended to signify the sitter’s intellectual status.
Information
Title
Study for the portrait of a man
Dates
late 1770s
Maker
Medium
Pen and brown ink, brown wash over graphite
Dimensions
43.7 x 28.3 cm (17 3/16 x 11 1/8 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Dan Fellows Platt, Class of 1895
Object Number
x1948-1621
Culture
Type
Subject
Dan Fellows Platt;
Bequeathed to the Princeton University Art Museum
Standing Male Figure
