Lady Seated at a Table (recto); Dancing Figures (verso) 1775 or later George Romney British After three years studying art in Italy, Romney returned to London in 1775 and established himself as a successful portrait painter. He attracted important patrons and charged fees only slightly below those commanded by Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough. Romney often made rapid working studies when exploring compositions; here he used pen to define the figure and expressive passages of wash to establish light and shade. Since the sitter is seen in profile writing a letter, she may relate to a contemplated literary subject rather than a portrait. Wishing to extend his range toward history painting, Romney began a series of female figures in the 1780s inspired by characters in poems and novels.. Lady Seated at a Table (recto); Dancing Figures (verso) 355625