Elizabeth, Lady Blunt

The subject of this portrait wears a loose white gown and leans against a Classical bust of a philosopher. The bust, and the scrolled papers beside her, serve as a symbol of her erudition and refinement. Her pale skin, long neck, and sloping shoulders make her the ideal 18th-century beauty.

George Romney was one of the most successful portrait painters of the late 18th century. Perhaps best known for his portraits of Lady Emma Hamilton, Romney also painted many other members of England's social and cultural elite. This three-quarter-length portrait is thought to represent Elizabeth Peers, who married Sir Charles William Blunt in 1764.