Romney, George, an English painter; born in Rickside, Lancashire, Dec. 15, 1734. He steadily rose in popularity, and was finally recognized as inferior only to Reynolds and Gainsborough as a portrait-painter; some critics even placed him higher than either. His residence in London was interrupted by occasional visits to the Continent for purposes of study, and his most prosperous period dates from 1775, after his return from a visit of 18 months to Rome. Many distinguished Englishmen and many ladies of rank sat to him for their portraits. He did not neglect historical or imaginative compositions, and he contributed several pictures to Boydell's famous Shakespeare gallery, founded in 1786. Fine examples of his work command high prices. He died in Kendal, Nov. 15, 1802.
Entry from Everybody's Cyclopedia,
1912.