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King George IV

(1762-1830), Regent 1811-19; Reigned 1820-30

Regency 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.

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King George IV, after Unknown artist - NPG D33353

King George IV

after Unknown artist
stipple engraving, published January 1827
NPG D33353

The King Commander in Chief; or, the Upset of the Waterloo-man, Bags & Baggage, by John Phillips, published by  George Humphrey - NPG D10676

The King Commander in Chief; or, the Upset of the Waterloo-man, Bags & Baggage

by John Phillips, published by George Humphrey
coloured etching, published 8 May 1827
NPG D10676

King George IV, by James Bromley, after  Robert Bowyer - NPG D10842

King George IV

by James Bromley, after Robert Bowyer
mezzotint, published 1827
NPG D10842

King George IV, by William Say, published by  William Sams, after  Frederick Richard Say - NPG D10843

King George IV

by William Say, published by William Sams, after Frederick Richard Say
mezzotint, published May 1827
NPG D10843

The Pilot Lost and the National Steamboat in Danger, by Charles Williams, published by  Samuel Knight (Knights) - NPG D46027

The Pilot Lost and the National Steamboat in Danger

by Charles Williams, published by Samuel Knight (Knights)
hand-coloured etching, published August 1827
NPG D46027

The Game Cock and the Dunghills, by Henry Heath, published by  John Fairburn - NPG D46031

The Game Cock and the Dunghills

by Henry Heath, published by John Fairburn
hand-coloured etching, published 22 April 1827
NPG D46031

'A Complete Turn-Out among the Cabinet-Makers', probably by Henry Heath, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D48686

'A Complete Turn-Out among the Cabinet-Makers'

probably by Henry Heath, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published April 1827
NPG D48686

Anticipation or A Peep behind the Screen, by Henry Heath, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D48689

Anticipation or A Peep behind the Screen

by Henry Heath, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 23 April 1827
NPG D48689

'To Be, or not To Be, that is the Question.', by Henry Heath, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D48692

'To Be, or not To Be, that is the Question.'

by Henry Heath, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 8 May 1827
NPG D48692

The King Commander in Chief; or, the Upset of the Waterloo-man, Bags & Baggage, by John Phillips, published by  George Humphrey - NPG D48693

The King Commander in Chief; or, the Upset of the Waterloo-man, Bags & Baggage

by John Phillips, published by George Humphrey
coloured etching, published 8 May 1827
NPG D48693

'A Great Political Magician giving the Wand of Power to his Cunning Harlequin', by John Phillips, published by  George Humphrey - NPG D48695

'A Great Political Magician giving the Wand of Power to his Cunning Harlequin'

by John Phillips, published by George Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 19 May 1827
NPG D48695

'The Three George's - The Patron - The Sovereign - and the Patriot', by Charles Williams, published by  John Fairburn - NPG D48696

'The Three George's - The Patron - The Sovereign - and the Patriot'

by Charles Williams, published by John Fairburn
hand-coloured etching, published 7 May 1827
NPG D48696

'The Two Happiest Men Alive', by William Heath, published by  Thomas McLean - NPG D48701

'The Two Happiest Men Alive'

by William Heath, published by Thomas McLean
hand-coloured etching, published circa October 1827
NPG D48701

King George IV, by Richard James Lane, after  Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG D22217

King George IV

by Richard James Lane, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
lithograph, 1827 (1815)
NPG D22217

King George IV, by William Say, after  James Northcote - NPG D33355

King George IV

by William Say, after James Northcote
mezzotint, 1828
NPG D33355

Cottage Amusement, by Henry Heath, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D46036

Cottage Amusement

by Henry Heath, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 12 February 1828
NPG D46036

The Political Bellman, by Robert Seymour, published by  E. King - NPG D46052

The Political Bellman

by Robert Seymour, published by E. King
hand-coloured etching, circa January 1828
NPG D46052

Political Conveyancer, by William Heath, published by  Thomas McLean - NPG D46065

Political Conveyancer

by William Heath, published by Thomas McLean
hand-coloured etching, published circa January 1828
NPG D46065

'A Change in the Head of Affairs' (Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington; King George IV), by William Heath, published by  Thomas McLean - NPG D48705

'A Change in the Head of Affairs' (Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington; King George IV)

by William Heath, published by Thomas McLean
hand-coloured etching, published circa January 1828
NPG D48705

'Patch-work Cabinet, No. 2.  Political Bind Man's Buff', published by John Fairburn - NPG D48706

'Patch-work Cabinet, No. 2. Political Bind Man's Buff'

published by John Fairburn
hand-coloured etching, published February 1828
NPG D48706

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