ship ▁was ▁" one ▁of ▁the ▁classic ▁roman ces ▁of ▁the ▁west ▁country " ▁and ▁she ▁was ▁" the ▁most ▁beautiful ▁singer ▁in ▁England ". ▁After ▁they ▁were ▁officially ▁married ▁Sher idan ▁would ▁not ▁allow ▁her ▁to ▁appear ▁on ▁stage ▁in ▁a ▁professional ▁capacity ▁as ▁he ▁felt ▁it ▁reflected ▁badly ▁on ▁his ▁status ▁as ▁a ▁gentleman . ▁ ▁Thomas ▁G ains borough ▁had ▁been ▁a ▁friend ▁of ▁the ▁family ▁since ▁ 1 7 5 9 ▁and ▁he ▁painted ▁several ▁port ra its ▁of ▁the ▁Lin ley ▁family . ▁Elizabeth ▁was ▁also ▁the ▁model ▁for ▁the ▁Josh ua ▁Reyn olds ▁painting ▁St ▁Cec ilia , ▁which ▁was ▁successfully ▁exhib ited ▁at ▁the ▁Royal ▁Academy ▁in ▁ 1 7 7 5 , ▁and ▁described ▁by ▁Reyn olds ▁as ▁" the ▁best ▁picture ▁I ▁ever ▁painted ." ▁ ▁The ▁Sher id ans ▁had ▁a ▁temp est uous ▁marriage ▁as ▁they ▁were ▁an ▁ill - match ed ▁couple ▁with ▁Sher idan ▁prefer ring ▁city ▁life ▁in ▁contrast ▁to ▁Elizabeth ' s ▁love ▁of ▁the ▁coun tr ys ide . ▁Elizabeth ▁begg ed ▁her ▁husband ▁to ▁" Take ▁me ▁out ▁of ▁the ▁wh irl ▁of ▁the ▁world , ▁place ▁me ▁in ▁the ▁quiet ▁and ▁simple ▁scenes ▁of ▁life ▁I ▁was ▁born ▁for ." ▁Sher idan ▁had ▁several ▁affairs , ▁as ▁did ▁Elizabeth , ▁and ▁they ▁spent ▁a ▁great ▁deal ▁of ▁time ▁apart . ▁By ▁the ▁time ▁she ▁was ▁ 3 6 , ▁in ▁ 1 7 9 0 , ▁Elizabeth ▁was ▁showing ▁signs ▁of ▁ill - he alth