King George IV

Sitterback to top

• King George IV (1762-1830), Regent 1811-19; Reigned 1820-30. Sitter associated with 182 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Richard Cosway (1742-1821), Miniature painter. Artist associated with 96 portraits, Sitter in 15 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This miniature of the Prince as an elegant, fashion conscious young man may have been commissioned as a gift for the actress Mary 'Perdita' Robinson, the Prince's mistress in 1782. It was one of Cosway's first miniatures for George who appointed him 'Painter to the Prince of Wales' in 1785. Over the following twenty years, Cosway - a supreme connoisseur - was also the Prince's leading advisor on artistic matters.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Piper, David, The English Face, 1992, p. 185
• Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 147
• Rogers, Malcolm, Master Drawings from the National Portrait Gallery, 1993 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 5 August to 23 October 1994), p. 51
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 241
• Walker, Richard, Miniatures: 300 Years of the English Miniature, 1998, p. 86

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Hats and head-attire
• Miniatures
• On display at the Gallery