His Royal Highness George Prince of Wales

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His Royal Highness George Prince of Wales
His Royal Highness George Prince of Wales
His Royal Highness George Prince of Wales
The Trustees of the British Museum
title=Credit line
Artist
Andrew Miller (fl. 1739-d. 1763) after Wilson
Title
His Royal Highness George Prince of Wales
Date
1752
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Metric: 330 x 226 mm
Imperial: 13 x 8 7/8 in.
Accession Number
1876,0510.940
Wilson Online Reference
E5B
Description
Prince George is shown as a boy of 13, half-length standing to the right, looking ahead, with arms thrown outwards. He wears a coat embroidered with flowers, a decorated waistcoat and over these the star and sash of the Garter. His hair is curled and powdered en queue, tied at the nape, and under his left arm, he carries a cockaded hat.
Provenance
R.B. Bennett; acquired 1876
Signature/inscription
Lettered below the image: Richd,, Wilson Pinxt,, 1751 / Andw,, Miller fecit 1752 / Done from the Original in the Possession of the Revd Dr Ayscough / His Royal Highness George Prince of Wales / Born 24 May 1738.
Subject
The sitter was later to become King George III
Versions
See 'Links' tab
Related Paintings
P24 Dr Francis Ayscough with the Prince of Wales and Edward Augustus, Duke of York and Albany, National Portrait Gallery, London
P24A Prince George and Prince Edward Augustus, Sons of Frederick, Prince of Wales, with their Tutor Dr. Francis Ayscough, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven
P24B Richard Wilson and Studio, George III and the Duke of York, Tate, London
Critical commentary
The original portrait referred to in the lettering has disappeared. Edwards 1808 and Wright 1824 dated it to 1751. However, Wilson went to Venice in the autumn of 1750 and it is probable that the portrait was finished before he went. Its putative date may refer to the year when the sitter became Prince of Wales on the death of his father.
Andrew Miller was a mezzotinter who trained in London. However, he went to Dublin in 1741, and worked with John Brooks, remaining there until his death. His work is very rare and it is probable that this reprise of Faber's 1751 print (E5 and E5A) was intended for the Irish market.
Bibliography
Farington Biographical Note; Edwards 1808, p. 78; Wright 1824, p. 2; Chaloner Smith, vol. 1, p. 358, cat. 160; WGC, p. 154, pl. 7b
Updated by Compiler
2017-01-27 00:00:00