King George II

King George II, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt, 1716-1760, based on a work of 1716 - NPG 205 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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King George II

after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, 1716-1760, based on a work of 1716
61 1/4 in. x 23 1/2 in. (1556 mm x 597 mm)
Purchased, 1865
Primary Collection
NPG 205

Sitterback to top

  • King George II (1683-1760), Reigned 1727-60. Sitter associated with 58 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt (1646-1723), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 1683 portraits, Sitter associated with 30 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This portrait of the King when Prince of Wales shows him with the blue ribbon of a Knight of the Garter and ermine-lined robes over a steel cuirass. More detailed information on this portrait is available in a National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue, John Kerslake's Early Georgian Portraits (1977, out of print).

Linked publicationsback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1716back to top

Current affairs

Failure of the Jacobite rebellion. John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll disperses the remainder of the Jacobite troops. The Pretender, James Stuart, flees to France. Jacobite leaders James Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Derwentwater and William Gordon, 6th Viscount of Kenmure are executed.
Septennial Act extends life of parliament from three to seven years.

Art and science

Artist Philip Mercier settles in England from Paris.
Physicist and Astronomer Royal Edmond Halley suggests a precise measurement of the distance between the Earth and the Sun by timing the transit of Venus.

International

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu leaves for Turkey with her husband who takes up the post of Ambassador to Constantinople. While there she writes a series of letters, observing contemporary Turkish life, later to be published as the celebrated Turkish Embassy Letters.
Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI has a son, but the child dies within the year.

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