Lot Essay
Painted in 1765, these striking portraits are fine examples of Romney's early work. Writing on the pair in his 2015 catalogue, Alex Kidson (op. cit., p. 519) observes: 'They are in Romney's most extreme metropolitan style at this date, and are arguably the most confident and accomplished paintings he had yet made.'
William Salmond was the son of James Salmond of Antigua and Lydia, née Hanson. After the death of his first wife, William married secondly Jane, daughter of Edward Hassell of Dalemain, near Penrith, on 3 October 1765. Interestingly, the commission appears to have begun as a 30 x 25 inch bust-length portrait of William, and was subsequently enlarged to its current format, whereas no such alteration is evident in that of the pendant of his wife.
Kidson (op. cit., p. 519) notes that the pink gown worn by Jane appears also in Romney's portrait of Mrs Cecilia Strickland (cat. no. 1249; Havana, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes). This link is probably explained by the fact the two families were well acquainted and the Salmonds rented Sizergh Castle, near Kendal in Cumbria, from the Stricklands in 1766, the year after the present portraits were executed.
William Salmond was the son of James Salmond of Antigua and Lydia, née Hanson. After the death of his first wife, William married secondly Jane, daughter of Edward Hassell of Dalemain, near Penrith, on 3 October 1765. Interestingly, the commission appears to have begun as a 30 x 25 inch bust-length portrait of William, and was subsequently enlarged to its current format, whereas no such alteration is evident in that of the pendant of his wife.
Kidson (op. cit., p. 519) notes that the pink gown worn by Jane appears also in Romney's portrait of Mrs Cecilia Strickland (cat. no. 1249; Havana, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes). This link is probably explained by the fact the two families were well acquainted and the Salmonds rented Sizergh Castle, near Kendal in Cumbria, from the Stricklands in 1766, the year after the present portraits were executed.