Portrait of a Woman, Said to Be Emily Bertie Pott (died 1782)

Romney's female portraiture developed a distinctive approach that distinguished him from Reynolds's more formally Grand Manner style — his women are simultaneously elegant and approachable, the formal conventions of late eighteenth-century portraiture softened by a natural warmth and a sensitivity to individual character that made his portraits feel personally rather than merely officially representative. His attraction to women of beauty and intelligence is apparent in the quality of attention he brought to female subjects, and the best of his female portraits combine precise observation of individual physiognomy with an atmospheric generosity that makes the sitter feel seen rather than merely documented.

Romney's characteristically clean, luminous technique is evident in the smooth modeling of the face and the graceful, linear treatment of the figure. The restricted palette of warm tones creates a harmonious effect, while the simplified background and elegant pose demonstrate Romney's gift for classical restraint in portraiture.