Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe)
(1756-1837), Famous beauty; morganatic wife of George IVSitter 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.
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
by James Gillray, published by William Holland
etching, published 5 April 1786
NPG D13051
'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
line engraving, published 1786
NPG D15167
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
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
hand-coloured etching, published 1 July 1788
NPG D12997
by James Gillray, published by Samuel William Fores
hand-coloured etching, published 4 June 1788
NPG D13065
'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
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
hand-coloured etching, published 13 October 1791
NPG D12427
Maria Anne Fitzherbert (née Smythe)
after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, after 1792
NPG D2344
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
hand-coloured etching, published 12 July 1792
NPG D12462
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 24 January 1795
NPG D12515
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
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
hand-coloured etching, published 18 June 1804
NPG D13107
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
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 17 May 1805
NPG D13110
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