Two Children Embracing
Though George Romney worked during the Neoclassical era—known for its strict, idealized forms—he lets his hair down in this tender sketch. Best known for glamorous portraits of Emma Hamilton, here he captures two children locked in a warm embrace with loose, sweeping lines. The figures blend into one another, feeling less like a formal study and more like a fleeting, private moment of affection. It proves that even a master of polished portraiture could convey deep emotion with just a few bold, messy strokes.