William Hayley

William Hayley (1745-1820) wrote a biography of his friend Romney, for whom he sat on at least thirteen occasions. He was also a poet, and this image evokes very well the soulful melancholy appropriate to this calling.

This may be tactful flattery on Romney’s part - the poet Southey (another friend) said of Hayley: “Everything about that man is good, except his poetry.”