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Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe)

(1756-1837), Famous beauty; morganatic wife of George IV

Sitter in 25 portraits
A woman of tact and discretion, Mrs Fitzherbert was one of the great beauties of her day. Although a Catholic and a widow she was persuaded to marry the Prince of Wales in a secret ceremony in 1785. The marriage was illegal. The Prince did not have the King's approval and the heir could not marry a Catholic without forfeiting the right to the throne. Mrs Fitzherbert was condemned to a life of deception as the Prince's 'mistress'. She patiently maintained this position for almost a decade after George's official marriage to Caroline of Brunswick in 1795.

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Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe), by Sir Joshua Reynolds - NPG L162

Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe)

by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, circa 1788
On display in Room 15 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L162

'Wife & no wife - or - a trip to the Continent', by James Gillray, published by  William Holland - NPG D13066

'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

Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe), by Thomas Holloway, published by  John Sewell - NPG D15167

Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe)

by Thomas Holloway, published by John Sewell
line engraving, published 1786
NPG D15167

'Dido forsaken', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12994

'Dido forsaken'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 21 May 1787
NPG D12994

'The royal joke, - or - black jacks delight', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12996

'The royal joke, - or - black jacks delight'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 25 April 1788
NPG D12996

'The fall of Phaeton' (King George IV; Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe)), by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12997

'The fall of Phaeton' (King George IV; Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe))

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 1 July 1788
NPG D12997

'The funeral procession of Miss Regency', by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D13053

'The funeral procession of Miss Regency'

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 29 April 1789
NPG D13053

'Bandelures' (King George IV; Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe); Richard Brinsley Sheridan), by James Gillray, published by  Samuel William Fores - NPG D12412

'Bandelures' (King George IV; Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe); Richard Brinsley Sheridan)

by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
etching and stipple, published 28 February 1791
NPG D12412

Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe) ('Patent-bolsters; - le moyèn d'etre en-bon-point'), by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12427

Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe) ('Patent-bolsters; - le moyèn d'etre en-bon-point')

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 13 October 1791
NPG D12427

Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe), by Jean Condé, after  Richard Cosway - NPG D2345

Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe)

by Jean Condé, after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, published 1792
NPG D2345

'The visit to Piccadilly; - or - a Prussian reception', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12462

'The visit to Piccadilly; - or - a Prussian reception'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 12 July 1792
NPG D12462

'The lover's dream', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12515

'The lover's dream'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 24 January 1795
NPG D12515

'John Bull ground down', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12527

'John Bull ground down'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 1 June 1795
NPG D12527

'Dilettanti-theatricals: - or - a peep at the green room', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13099

'Dilettanti-theatricals: - or - a peep at the green room'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured soft-ground etching, published 18 February 1803
NPG D13099

'L'assemblée nationale: - or - grand cooperation meeting at St Ann's Hill', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13107

'L'assemblée nationale: - or - grand cooperation meeting at St Ann's Hill'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 18 June 1804
NPG D13107

'The guardian-angel', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12842

'The guardian-angel'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 22 April 1805
NPG D12842

'End of the Irish farce of Catholic Emancipation', by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13110

'End of the Irish farce of Catholic Emancipation'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 17 May 1805
NPG D13110

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