Thank you so much for this!
You are reducing my ignorance one video at a time. Ha.
I’ve never heard of this guy as far as I can recall. (G Romney, not Beethoven. B I’ve heard of!) I’m undecided on whether I like him as an artist. I may have to watch a few more times. What I did find interesting was the variety of poses and backgrounds and props. Some seemed especially odd and I kind of liked the “oddness”. Like the guy with some of his buttons unbuttoned. I like that the portraits weren’t “formulaic”.
>>I like that the portraits weren’t “formulaic”.
Absolutely! There are wrinkles in the pants. The subject leans on anything within reach. Ugly people stay ugly but seem mostly rather pleasant. The background is detailed. The background is what will eventually become impressionist art.
He HIRED! another artist to do horses in his later portraits, though I think his early study was fine. He did the dogs himself. He had a spaniel in his studio and if someone didn’t bring their own dog, they could add his spaniel as they could add a piece of sculpture that keeps popping up. And who doesn’t love someone who loves dogs?
Sometimes his faces are perfect. Sometimes it feels like someone needs to teach him perspective. On the other hand, he studies in Rome and has had long looks at mannerism which, almost like Picasso, believes bodies can be creatively depicted.
And then he paints Emma Hart/Hamilton and you see real love shouting out from the canvas.
By the way, like someone with curly hair who wants straight hair, he is bored to death with portrait painting and always wants to be an historical scene painter, though he’s really not up to it. When he becomes ill in later life, he retires to do that. And dies insane. Wish someone wrote more about that.
So glad you’re having fun. I am!