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King George IV

(1762-1830), Regent 1811-19; Reigned 1820-30

Regency 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.

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'The Gift of Tongues', by John ('HB') Doyle, published by  Thomas McLean - NPG D41103

'The Gift of Tongues'

by John ('HB') Doyle, published by Thomas McLean
lithograph, published 26 November 1831
NPG D41103

King George IV, by Henry Adlard, after  Abraham Wivell - NPG D10845

King George IV

by Henry Adlard, after Abraham Wivell
stipple engraving, published 1839
NPG D10845

King George IV, by P. Thomas, published by  Graves & Warmsley, after  Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG D33349

King George IV

by P. Thomas, published by Graves & Warmsley, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mixed-method engraving, published 1841
NPG D33349

King George IV, by P. Thomas, published by  Graves & Warmsley, after  Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG D33350

King George IV

by P. Thomas, published by Graves & Warmsley, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mixed-method engraving, published 1841
NPG D33350

King George IV, published by William Heinemann, after  Sir William Beechey - NPG D33329

King George IV

published by William Heinemann, after Sir William Beechey
photogravure, late 19th or early 20th century (1798)
NPG D33329

King George IV when Prince of Wales, by Henry Herschel Hay Cameron (later The Cameron Studio), after  Thomas Gainsborough - NPG D33331

King George IV when Prince of Wales

by Henry Herschel Hay Cameron (later The Cameron Studio), after Thomas Gainsborough
photograph of painting, 1891 (1782)
NPG D33331

King George IV, published by John Player & Sons, after  Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG D48152

King George IV

published by John Player & Sons, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
colour relief halftone cigarette card, 1935
NPG D48152

King George IV, by Unknown artist - NPG D47480

King George IV

by Unknown artist
colour relief halftone, 1955
NPG D47480

Web image not currently available

King George IV

possibly by James Heath, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, (1788-1789?)
NPG D19442

Web image not currently available

King George IV

by and published by Samuel William Reynolds
mezzotint, published 24 October 1821
NPG D20068

Web image not currently available

King George IV

by Charles Turner, published by Hurst, Robinson & Co, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mezzotint, published 1 January 1824
NPG D19927

Web image not currently available

King George IV

by William Say, published by William Sams, after Frederick Richard Say
mezzotint, published May 1827
NPG D20039

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