{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O128331"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O128331/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BP1333/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BP1333/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BP1333","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KY5125","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O128331/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O128331","accessionNumber":"DYCE.22","objectType":"Oil painting","titles":[{"title":"Serena","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"This oil painting by George Romney depicts Serena, the heroine of a popular poem by the artist's friend and biographer, William Hayley. In <i>The Triumphs of Temper</i> (1781), Hayley describes Serena's enthusiasm for reading the latest romances: \r\n\r\n\"Possest by Sympathy's enchanting sway,\r\nShe read, unconscious of the dawning day.\r\nThe Modern Anecdote was next convey'd\r\nBeneath her pillow by her faithful maid.\r\nThe nymph, attentive as the brooding dove,\r\nPor'd o'er the tender scenes of Franzel's love:\r\nThe sinking taper now grew weak and pale;\r\nSERENA sigh'd, and dropt th' unfinish'd tale...\"\n\nThe painting in the V&amp;A's collection is one of a number of works that Romney produced on the same theme.  The Harris Museum and Art Gallery holds a version entitled <i>Serena Reading</i>, and the Dulwich Picture Gallery exhibited another painting with the same title in 2010, from a private collection. \n\nThe V&amp;A also holds a print of <i>Serena</i> (DYCE.2929). The painting and the print were both bequeathed to the Museum by the Reverend Alexander Dyce.","physicalDescription":"An oil portrait of a young woman","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"George Romney","id":"A14986"},"association":{"text":"painter (artist)","id":"AAT25136"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"oil paint","id":"AAT15050"},{"text":"canvas","id":"AAT14078"}],"techniques":[{"text":"oil painting","id":"AAT178684"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Oil on canvas","categories":[{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"},{"text":"Portraits","id":"THES48906"}],"styles":[{"text":"British School","id":"x30967"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2007BP1333","2018KY5125"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"A","id":"THES304479"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"oil paintings","id":"AAT33799"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1780s","earliest":"1780-01-01","latest":"1789-12-31"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Rev. Alexander Dyce","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"35.75","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"estimate","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"26.75","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"estimate","note":""},{"dimension":"","value":"","unit":"","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"Measurement taken at time of assessment prior to BH decant - Frame Dimensions (mm): H-1117 W-898 D-68;\nPainting Dimensions (mm): not measured"}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions taken from <i>Summary catalogue of British Paintings</i>, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1973","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bequeathed by Rev. Alexander Dyce, 1869","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Oil Painting, 'Serena', George Romney, 1780s\r\n","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"portraits","id":"AAT15637"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["DYCE.22"],"accessionNumberNum":"22","accessionNumberPrefix":"DYCE","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2006-10-05","availableToBook":true}}