Portrait of Mrs Harrit Greer

English portraiture flourished in the late 18th century, when not only aristocrats, but also lesser nobles, merchants and officers commissioned portraits of themselves, their wives and children. We see in these portraits not only people who left their mark on the history of Britain but also those known only to the narrow circle of their friends and loved ones. Such was Harriet Greer, the wife of Captain William Greer. The portrait is the work of George Romney, an artist who enjoyed great popularity amongst the ladies: he used his skilful brush not to penetrate character, but to capture a likeness and give the sitter charm. Mrs Greer is dressed with simple elegance, the dark soft shawl setting off the fine fabric of the ruffled dress. The black hat with its white ostrich feather is set a little rakishly, giving the face a coquettish note, while the powdered curls reinforce the freshness of the face.