King George IV
(1762-1830), Regent 1811-19; Reigned 1820-30Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 274 portraits
George, Prince of Wales was given no official duties by his father King George III. Jockeying for power, he sought to undermine the King by siding with the Whig opposition led by Charles James Fox. When the King went temporarily insane in 1788 William Pitt, the Tory Prime Minister, proposed a restricted Regency to protect the King's interests. The King's recovery three months later ended the 'Regency Crisis'. The Regency Bill was revived during the King's final illness. George was sworn Regent in 1811 and crowned King in 1820. Vain, self-indulgent and debauched he was, however, a man of exceptional taste and style who is best remembered for his magnificent patronage of the arts.
by Richard Cosway
watercolour on ivory, circa 1780-1782
NPG 5890
'A representation of the famous battle at Smith in the Bottom, near Croydon ...'
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 10th June 1788
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.A4.01
by Richard Cosway
watercolour on ivory, 1792
NPG 5389
by H. de Janvry
wash and stipple with white lead heightening on ivory, 1793
NPG 1761
Frederick, Duke of York and Albany; King George IV
by Thomas R. Poole
wax relief, 1795
NPG 3308
after Sir Thomas Lawrence
oil on canvas, circa 1815, based on a work of 1815
NPG 2503
by Johann Paul Georg Fischer, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
watercolour and bodycolour on ivory, before 1875, based on a work of 1815
NPG 6295
by Thomas Wyon Jr, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
silver medal with ribbon, 1816
NPG 5579
by Thomas Wyon Jr, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
silver medal, 1816
NPG 5575
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, circa 1821
NPG 316a(54)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, pen and ink, circa 1821
NPG 316a(53)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, circa 1821
NPG 316a(55)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1826
NPG 316a(56)
by Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey
pencil, 1826
NPG 316a(57)
Frederick, Duke of York and Albany; King George IV
by Crowhurst of Brighton
silhouette, circa 1827
NPG 1691a
'The Kings and Queens of England: From the Conquest to Queen Victoria'
by Henry Hering
albumen carte-de-visite photomontage, 1862
NPG Ax131392
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; King George IV when Prince of Wales
by Richard Houston, published by Robert Sayer, after Robert Pyle
mezzotint, mid 1760s
NPG D33075
King George IV; Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
by James Watson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, circa 1765-1770
NPG D33327
King George IV; Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
by Robert Laurie, published by Robert Sayer
mezzotint, published 10 January 1772
NPG D14965
Related People
- Prince Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge (brother)
- Princess Amelia (sister)
- Princess Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (wife)
- Charlotte Augusta Matilda, Princess Royal (sister)
- Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales (daughter)
- Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (mother)
- Princess Elizabeth, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg (sister)
- Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and King of Hanover (brother)
- Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe) (wife)
- Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (brother)
- King George III (father)
- Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (brother)
- Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester (sister)
- Prince Octavius (brother)
- Princess Augusta Sophia (sister)
- Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex (brother)
- King William IV (brother)
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