| Description | Sketchbook of artist George Romney (1734-1802), which contains original accounts, draft letters and sketches, dating roughly from late 1772.
The first section of the volume comprises draft letters and accounts recorded by Romney. The majority of draft letters are written to patrons, requesting that they settle accounts, frequently referencing Romney's 'leaving the Kingdom' in a few weeks or a month's time as justification. The visit abroad referenced is Romney's journey to Italy via Paris in 1773, from which he returned to London in 1775.
Other letters in the volume refer to descisions made about paintings. A draft letter on Folio 9 (GRO/2/15), counters comments made about the proportions of a portrait of Mrs Knatchbull after her friends noted that the arms seem too long. There are also several drafts of letters regarding the portrait of Lady Arundell, negotiating and requesting certain dresses which are to be painted. Likewise with regards to the portrait of Lady Arundell, there is an interesting discussion on Folio 15 recto (GRO/2/22), in which Romney mentions the coronation costumes in a new production of 'Henry the Eight' in Covent Garden.
Two draft letters at the back of the volume (GRO/2/95) appear to be written to Romney's son and reference Romney's wife, Molly, and brother, James. These personal letters reference James' asking for money and Molly's wish to visit Romney in London. Another note of a more personal nature at the centre of the volume on Folio 20 recto (GRO/2/32). The contents of the note is personal advice to an unknown reader, perhaps written before Romney's departure to Italy.
The largest section of the volume consists of ink and pencil sketches made by Romney. These vary in their level of detail, from line drawings and rough composition sketches to detailed and shaded sketches. These sketches are predominantly portrait studies, although history sketches and life studies are also present. Although the majority of sketches have not been identified, it is thought that Folios 22 verso, 23 recto, 27 verso, 30 verso, 31 recto could show sketches for a portrait of Lady Arundell (GRO/2/35, GRO/2/36, GRO/2/42, GRO/2/48, GRO/2/49), Folios 18 verso and 19 recto could be preliminary sketches for a portrait of William Lindow (although previously thought to depict Richard Cumberland) (GRO/2/29), (GRO/2/30), while Folio 15 verso holds sketches which could be for a portrait of Mrs Knatchbull (GRO/2/23). In addition, Folios 28 and 29 recto appear to show sketches of Lady Frances Warren (GRO/2/43, GRO/2/44, GRO/2/45).
Although the exact dates of the entire sketchbook are uncertain, it has been dated 1772 as this appears to be when the majority of its content was executed. Not only does the date coincide with Romney's departure for Italy which is frequently referenced, accounts which relate to a portrait of Mr and Mrs William Lindow are dated 1772, as well as drafts of letters to Sir Francis Vincent, which include an account dated October 1772 as well as mention of portraits of the Vincent family dated 1772. There is also correspondence regarding a portrait of Lady Frances Warren which was sent in October 1772, and an account for a portrait of Mrs Knatchbull dated October 1772.
The orientation of the volume varies throughout, and is recorded in the catalogue in comparison to the volume's inside cover (portrait) as being standard. As such, orientation is referenced in decriptions of each leaf as standard or 90, 180 or 270 degrees from standard.
The legibility of the volume varies. Where descriptions are written in square brackets, words have been assumed, however there are passages and words which have been classed as illegible. Text in the volume is frequently written in a kind of shorthand. Where it is helpful to or necessary for the flow of text, letters or sections of words have been added in square brackets.
Throughout the volume, page numbers have been noted in ink by a previous owner or unknown member of gallery staff, however they do not correspond to the structure laid out here.
The cover of the notebook has been labelled 'Note' in black ink.
The structure of the sketchbook is as follows (where draft letters run across multiple pages, they have been grouped as one item):
- Inside Cover - Front - Markings relating to previous owner, markings made by gallery. Original inscription, '1 Vol. of Celebrated Authors'
- Original Folio 1 recto has been torn out of the volume, as such the next page is referred to as folio 1.
- Folio 1 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 1 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 2 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 2 verso - Account
- Folio 3 recto - Draft letter
- Folio 3 verso - Draft letter
- Folio 4 recto - Draft letter
- Folio 4 verso - Draft letter
- Folio 5 recto - Draft letter
- Folio 5 verso - Draft letter
- Folio 6 recto - Ink sketch
- Folio 6 verso - Folio 7 verso - Draft letter
- Folio 8 recto - blank
- Folio 8 verso - Ink sketch
- Folio 9 - Draft letter
- Folio 10 - Draft letter
- Folio 11 recto - Draft letter
- Folio 11 verso - Account and draft letter
- Folio 12 recto - Draft letter
- Folio 12 verso - Draft letter
- Folio 13 recto - Draft letter
- Folio 13 verso - 15 recto - Draft letter
- Folio 15 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 16 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 16 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 17 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 17 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 18 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 18 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 19 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 19 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 20 recto - Draft letter/note
- Folio 20 verso - Ink sketch
- Folio 21 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 21 verso - 22 recto - blank but for impressions of ink sketches on other sides of pages and one ink mark
- Folio 22 verso - Ink sketch
- Folio 23 recto - Ink sketch
- Folio 23 verso - 24 recto - blank
- Folio 24 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 25 recto - Ink sketch
- Folio 25 verso - blank
- Folio 26 recto - Pencil sketches
- Folio 26 verso -Pencil sketch
- Folio 27 recto - Pencil sketch
- Folio 27 verso - Ink sketch
- Folio 28 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 28 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 29 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 29 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 30 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 30 verso - Ink sketch
- Folio 31 recto - Ink sketch
- Folio 31 verso - Ink sketch
- Folio 32 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 32 verso - 37 recto - blank
- Folio 37 verso - Ink sketch
- Folio 38 recto - blank
- Folio 38 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 39 recto - blank with offprint
- Folio 39 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 40 recto - blank with offprint
- Folio 40 verso - Ink sketch
- Folio 41 recto - Ink sketch
- Folio 41 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 42 recto - black with offprint
- Folio 42 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 43 recto - blank with offprint
- Folio 43 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 44 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 44 verso - Ink sketch
- Folio 45 recto - Ink sketch
- Folio 45 verso - Ink sketch
- Folio 46 recto - Ink marks
- Folio 46 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 47 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 47 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 48 recto - blank (ink mark)
- Folio 48 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 49 recto - blank
- Folio 49 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 50 recto - blank
- Folio 50 verso - Ink sketch
- Folio 51 recto - blank with two ink marks
- Folio 51 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 52 recto - blank
- Folio 52 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 53 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 53 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 54 recto - Ink sketch
- Folio 54 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 55 recto - blank
- Folio 55 verso - Ink sketch
- Folio 56 recto - Ink sketch
- Folio 56 verso - Ink sketch
- Folio 57 recto - Ink marks
- Folio 57 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 58 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 58 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 59 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 59 verso - Draft letter
- Folio 60 recto - Draft letter
- Folio 60 verso - Draft letter
- Folio 61 recto - Draft letter
- Folio 61 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 62 recto - Ink sketches
- Folio 62 verso - Ink sketches
- Folio 63 recto - blank
- Folio 63 verso - Draft letter
- Folio 64 recto - Draft letter
- Folio 64 verso - 65 recto - blank
- Folio 65 verso - 66 recto - Draft letter
- Folio 66 verso - 67 recto - Draft letter
- Folio 67 verso - Account
- Inside Cover - Back - Account |