Samuel Bennet after William Beechey

His Royal Highness, George, Prince of Wales

17 x 22 inches

This very flattering portrait of George, The Prince of Wales, was commissioned for the council chamber of The Royal Academy and shows the future king in military dress and posture with a remarkably youthful appearance that belies his 43 years of age. It is amusing to compare this portrait with the contemporary caricatures of the prince etched and published by James Gillray that depict him as overweight, gluttonous and dissolute.

Sir William Beechey (1753-1839) was a very accomplished portrait painter of the late C18th and early C19th who became the official portrait painter of Queen Charlotte. This might explain why his depiction of the eldest son and heir was quite so flattering!