Richard Cosway and George, Prince of Wales
King George IV
by Richard Cosway
circa 1780-1782
NPG 5890
King George IV
by Louis or Lewis Saillar (Sailliar), after Richard Cosway
published 24 August 1787
NPG D19038
Cosway first met the Prince of Wales in 1780 through their mutual friend Mrs Fitzherbert, whom the prince later married. He painted his first portrait of the Prince in the same year and from then until 1811, when the Prince became Regent, Cosway enjoyed his continuous patronage. He painted nearly fifty portraits of George as well several other members of the Royal Family.
The image-conscious Prince put considerable trust in Cosway. He was probably attracted to the artist's flamboyance, elegance and taste. Over time, George became the greatest patron of the arts since Charles I. Cosway clearly played a significant part in developing his taste and collections. He also created a rather wishful image of the Prince - for both private and public audiences - as a handsome and elegant young man.
King George IV
by Richard Cosway
1792
NPG 5389
Richard Cosway's signature on the reverse of his portrait of King George IV
Some of the portraits commissioned from Cosway helped fuel George's romantic liaisons and full-blown affairs. The Prince gave miniatures of himself, either as gifts, souvenirs or rewards, to his friends, relations and entourage. For the first five years of George's secret marriage to Mrs Fitzherbert, between 1785 and 1790, Cosway received commissions for four miniatures and two portrait drawings of George. He also painted two miniatures of Mrs Fitzherbert for the Prince, as well as miniature portraits of just their eyes which they swapped.
In 1785, Cosway was appointed Painter to the King. He began signing himself with a grand Latin title of his own devising Primarius Pictor Serenissimi Walliae Principis. Although good for his public profile, working for royalty was a mixed blessing; the Prince did not settle his account. In 1795 Joseph Farington observed 'Cosway's Bill to the Prince of Wales was about £1500, of which Cosway had paid for various articles £200... he has certainly much money owing to him for business done.'