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
'Monuments lately discovered on Salisbury Plain'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 15 June 1782
NPG D12309
'The thunderer' (King George IV; Sir Banastre Tarleton, Bt)
by James Gillray, published by Elizabeth d'Achery
hand-coloured etching, published 20 August 1782
NPG D12981
'Paridise regain'd' (King George IV; Charles James Fox; Mary Robinson (née Darby))
probably by James Gillray, published by J. Langham
hand-coloured etching, published 20 February 1783
NPG D12329
'General Blackbeard wounded at the battle of Leadenhall'
by John Boyne, published by Edward Hedges
etching, published 5 January 1784
NPG D12344
by Thomas Rowlandson, published by William Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 29 April 1784
NPG D14836
by Samuel William Reynolds, published by Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1785)
NPG D19589
by James Gillray, published by William Holland
etching, published 5 April 1786
NPG D13051
'A new way to pay the National-Debt'
by James Gillray, published by William Holland
hand-coloured etching and engraving, published 21 April 1786
NPG D13052
'Wife & no wife - or - a trip to the Continent'
by James Gillray, published by William Holland
hand-coloured etching, published 27 March 1786
NPG D13066
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 2 June 1787
NPG D12362
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 2 June 1787
NPG D12363
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 16 June 1787
NPG D12365
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 21 May 1787
NPG D12994
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
etching and aquatint, published 29 May 1787
NPG D13061
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 29 May 1787
NPG D13062
by Louis or Lewis Saillar (Sailliar), after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, published 24 August 1787
NPG D19038
by Samuel William Reynolds, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1788-1789)
NPG D9208
by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching and soft-ground etching, published 3 March 1788
NPG D9761
by James Gillray
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 19 July 1788
NPG D12385
'The royal joke, - or - black jacks delight'
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 25 April 1788
NPG D12996
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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