King George II when Prince of Wales

by and published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1717 (1716)
13 5/8 in. x 9 7/8 in. (345 mm x 250 mm) plate size; 13 7/8 in. x 10 1/4 in. (352 mm x 260 mm) paper size
Purchased, 1944
Reference Collection
NPG D11638

Sitterback to top

King George II (1683-1760), Reigned 1727-60. Sitter associated with 57 portraits.

Artistsback to top

Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt (1646-1723), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 1686 portraits, Sitter associated with 30 portraits.
John Smith (1652-1743), Engraver. Artist associated with 1180 portraits, Sitter in 4 portraits.

Related worksback to top

NPG D10756: King George II when Prince of Wales (from same plate)
NPG D11641: King George II when Prince of Wales (from same plate)
NPG D11936: King George II when Prince of Wales (from same plate)
NPG D7907: King George II when Prince of Wales (from same plate)
NPG D19107: King George II when Prince of Wales (from same plate)
NPG D19950: King George II when Prince of Wales (from same plate)

Placesback to top

Place made: United Kingdom: England, London (Lion and Crown, Russell Street, Covent Garden, London)

Portrait setback to top

John Smith mezzotints, 1683-1729, Vol. II

Subject/Themeback to top

Mezzotint

Events of 1717back to top

Current affairs

Count Carl Gyllenborg, the Swedish ambassador, is arrested in London and imprisoned over a plot to assist the Pretender James Stuart.
Bangorian controversy; a theological argument within the Church of England is initiated by the posthumous publication of a treatise written by George Hicks, Bishop of Thetford.
First Freemason's Grand Lodge is founded in London.

Art and science

Actor-manager Colley Cibber stages The Loves of Mars and Venus at the Drury Lane Theatre; the first ballet to be performed in Britain.
Composer George Frideric Handel's Water Music is performed for the first time on a barge on the River Thames for George I.

International

John Law establishes the Mississippi Company to develop trade in Louisiania for France. His scheme results in the 'Mississippi Bubble'.
Triple Alliance formed between England, France and the Dutch Republic to uphold the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht and maintain peace in Europe.
Competition between British and Dutch in factories on the coast of Mauritania results in the first 'gum war' over the lucrative trade in gum arabic.

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