DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6915#0040
26
fine arts of the english school.
mind for Art: yet the latent germ burst forth, and though its vegetation was
slow, it took firm root, and expanded in vigorous and fruitful blossoms.
Two gentlemen, his intimate friends, have already favoured the public with
distinct memoirs concerning him. Both are eminent for their talents as authors;
are kindly disposed to speak favourably of their subject; and, in what relates to
the early part of his life, they assure us they speak with his own authority.
From a combination of their narratives, aided and corrected by the testimony
of others of his friends, still living, the following summary history of our
deservedly esteemed Artist is composed.
George Romney was born at Dalton, in a district of Lancashire, called
Furness, on the 26th of December, 1734. His father was also a native of the
same place, where he spent his life on a small patrimonial freehold farm. He
followed the threefold occupation of merchant, builder, and farmer; but though
his professions were many, he does not appear to have acquired riches from the
joint profits of all. His family was large. George was sent to a village school
for a few years, but his chief education was obtained at home. At the age of
twelve he was employed, by his father, to superintend the workmen; and thus
"was called into business at a very early period. His first indications of genius,
or ingenuity, were displayed by carvings of small figures in wood. Mr. Hayley
states, that " he was also enthusiastically fond of music, and made many experi-
ments in the formation of violins;" and he not only learnt to make, but to play
upon them. Having finished one, of superior workmanship, he preserved it to
the day of his death; and Mr. Cumberland relates, " that he has heard him play
on it in a room hung round with pictures of his own painting:—that its tones
were good; and that some light carved work covered part of the back, spreading
in foliage from the setting on of the neck^ and very curiously wrought." This
extraordinary coincidence of powers of art in the same person is very striking,
and very rarely to be found equalled. It exhibits, in a strong point of view,
a native vigour of mind, and the delicate perceptibility with which it was
endued.
Romney appears to have been first tempted to draw, from a desire to imitate
some common prints in a periodical magazine. These he borrowed from a
journeyman carpenter, who boarded at his father's. Accident, which more
fine arts of the english school.
mind for Art: yet the latent germ burst forth, and though its vegetation was
slow, it took firm root, and expanded in vigorous and fruitful blossoms.
Two gentlemen, his intimate friends, have already favoured the public with
distinct memoirs concerning him. Both are eminent for their talents as authors;
are kindly disposed to speak favourably of their subject; and, in what relates to
the early part of his life, they assure us they speak with his own authority.
From a combination of their narratives, aided and corrected by the testimony
of others of his friends, still living, the following summary history of our
deservedly esteemed Artist is composed.
George Romney was born at Dalton, in a district of Lancashire, called
Furness, on the 26th of December, 1734. His father was also a native of the
same place, where he spent his life on a small patrimonial freehold farm. He
followed the threefold occupation of merchant, builder, and farmer; but though
his professions were many, he does not appear to have acquired riches from the
joint profits of all. His family was large. George was sent to a village school
for a few years, but his chief education was obtained at home. At the age of
twelve he was employed, by his father, to superintend the workmen; and thus
"was called into business at a very early period. His first indications of genius,
or ingenuity, were displayed by carvings of small figures in wood. Mr. Hayley
states, that " he was also enthusiastically fond of music, and made many experi-
ments in the formation of violins;" and he not only learnt to make, but to play
upon them. Having finished one, of superior workmanship, he preserved it to
the day of his death; and Mr. Cumberland relates, " that he has heard him play
on it in a room hung round with pictures of his own painting:—that its tones
were good; and that some light carved work covered part of the back, spreading
in foliage from the setting on of the neck^ and very curiously wrought." This
extraordinary coincidence of powers of art in the same person is very striking,
and very rarely to be found equalled. It exhibits, in a strong point of view,
a native vigour of mind, and the delicate perceptibility with which it was
endued.
Romney appears to have been first tempted to draw, from a desire to imitate
some common prints in a periodical magazine. These he borrowed from a
journeyman carpenter, who boarded at his father's. Accident, which more