George Romney (Beckside, nr. Dalton-in-Furness 1734-1802 Kendal)

The present drawing is from a series of works by Romney comparing the heroism of the social reformer John Howard (1726-1790) to the disease and corruption that was rife in 18th Cenury prisons. Howard exposed the dreadful conditions in his book The Lazarettos of Europe (1789). Other drawings from this series are at Abbott Hall Art Gallery, Kendal, and Tate, Britain.