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Jeremiah Milles

Maker (British, 1734-1802)
Sitter (British, 1751 - 1797)
ClassificationsPAINTINGS
Date1780-1783
Mediumoil on canvas
Dimensions94 1/4 x 58 1/2 in. (239.4 x 148.6 cm.)
DescriptionStanding full-length, the head three-quarters, the body profile, right; his left hand, with a book rests on a pedestal; his right arm akimbo. Powdered hair, with one curl over the ear, dark-gray eyes, fresh complexion. White cravat; gold silk vest and breeches, gray-white silk stockings, and black shoes with silver buckles. A rose-red cloak over his right shoulder. Tree trunks and foliage in the left and center background. Sky on the right, with low horizon; a stream, and a bank crowned by trees, in right middle distance.
Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
Label TextTo commemorate his marriage to Rose Gardiner, a wealthy young heiress, Jeremiah Milles commissioned full-length portraits, both of which hang in this gallery. They are linked through their similar backdrops and the bride and groom’s related poses – each with one leg crossed over the other, one arm resting on a pillar, and the head turned toward the viewer. While it was important for the two paintings to complement one another, they also express each sitter’s different character. Romney captured the self-confidence of Jeremiah Milles, who had achieved numerous academic and professional successes. The book Milles holds may allude to his literary achievements, but what is immediately striking is the casual manner in which it dangles from his fingertips, a sign of his ease and familiarity with intellectual matters.
Status
On view
Object number14.3
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