4 OF 317

The Homage-Giving: Westminster Abbey, 9th August, 1902

4 of 317 portraits of King George V

by John Henry Frederick Bacon
oil on canvas, 1903
38 in. x 72 in. (965 mm x 1829 mm)
Bequeathed by Miss M.E.B. Samson through The Art Fund, in memory of her father, 1989
Primary Collection
NPG 6058

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Artistback to top

John Henry Frederick Bacon (1868-1914), Artist. Artist associated with 4 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

Sittersback to top

Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Queen of Edward VII. Sitter associated with 360 portraits, Artist of 2 portraits.
John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll (1845-1914), Governor-General of Canada. Sitter in 22 portraits.
Mary Bell (née Dyke) (1875-1962), Maid of Honour to Queen Alexandra; wife of Matthew Gerald Edward Bell. Sitter in 1 portrait.
William Boyd Carpenter (1841-1918), Bishop of Ripon. Sitter in 14 portraits.
Louisa Jane, Duchess of Buccleuch (1836-1912), Mistress of the Robes to Queen Victoria and to Queen Alexandra; wife of 6th Duke of Buccleuch. Sitter in 2 portraits.
George Henry Hugh Cholmondeley, 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley (1858-1923), Lord Chamberlain. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Lord Alwyne Compton (1825-1906), Bishop of Ely. Sitter in 5 portraits.
Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1850-1942), Field Marshal and Governor General of Canada; son of Queen Victoria. Sitter associated with 120 portraits.
Randall Thomas Davidson, Baron Davidson of Lambeth (1848-1930), Archbishop of Canterbury. Sitter associated with 21 portraits.
Dudley Charles Fitzgerald de Ros, 24th Baron de Ros (1827-1907), Army officer and royal courtier. Sitter in 3 portraits.
Robinson Duckworth (1834-1911), Canon of Westminster. Sitter in 6 portraits.
King Edward VII (1841-1910), Reigned 1901-10. Sitter associated with 345 portraits.
King George V (1865-1936), Reigned 1910-36. Sitter associated with 317 portraits.
Sylvia, Lady Gleichen (1880-1942), Maid of Honour successively to Queen Victoria and Queen Alexandra. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Charles Gore (1853-1932), Bishop of Worcester, Birmingham and Oxford; theologian. Sitter in 5 portraits.
Augustus Charles Lennox Fitzroy, 7th Duke of Grafton (1821-1918), General. Sitter associated with 3 portraits.
Herbert Hensley Henson (1863-1947), Bishop of Durham. Sitter in 5 portraits.
George Wyndham Kennion (1845-1922), Bishop of Bath and Wells. Sitter in 3 portraits.
George Bingham, 4th Earl of Lucan (1830-1914), Politician and landowner. Sitter in 3 portraits.
Edith Bulwer-Lytton (née Villiers), Countess of Lytton (1841-1936), Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria and Queen Alexandra. Sitter in 4 portraits.
William Dalrymple Maclagan (1826-1910), Bishop of Lichfield and Archbishop of York. Sitter in 11 portraits.
Handley Carr Glynn Moule (1841-1920), Bishop of Durham. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk (1847-1917), Postmaster General. Sitter in 14 portraits.
Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts (1832-1914), Field Marshal. Sitter in 69 portraits.
Joseph Armitage Robinson (1858-1933), Dean successively of Westminster and Wells. Sitter in 2 portraits.
Charles Henry John Chetwynd-Talbot, 20th Earl of Shrewsbury (1860-1921), Lord High Steward of Ireland. Sitter in 2 portraits.
Frederick Temple (1821-1902), Archbishop of Canterbury. Sitter in 24 portraits.
Albert Basil Orme Wilberforce (1841-1916), Archdeacon of Westminster; son of Samuel Wilberforce. Sitter associated with 32 portraits.
Henry William Montagu Paulet, 16th Marquess of Winchester (1862-1962), Soldier. Sitter in 2 portraits.
Arthur Foley Winnington-Ingram (1858-1946), Bishop of London. Sitter associated with 37 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This picture commemorates the part of the coronation ceremony during which the king, already crowned, receives the homage of the nobility and clergy. The focus to the portrait is one of the more touching moments in the proceedings. Kneeling before the king, the elderly Archbishop of Canterbury, Frederick Temple, had found difficulty in rising again. As The Times reported, 'the King himself takes him by the right hand to help to raise him. Slowly and painfully, as it seems, the Archbishop regains his feet, and then he leans forward and kisses the King on the cheek; but, as he turns to leave, the King takes him again by the hand and clasps it with a gesture of regard too spontaneous and cordial to escape the most casual observation'. Among the many identifiable figures, the Prince of Wales is shown in the foreground and Queen Alexandra is seated to the right.