Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales

Inscriptionback to top

Signed on the base of the column, the initials in monogram: C Philips pinx

This portraitback to top

Companion portraits of Augusta and Frederick, at Christie's, 25 February 1924, lot 130, were stated to be signed and dated 1736 which, if correct, suggests that the original of NPG 2093 is perhaps associated with the sitter's marriage in April that year. The earliest reliable date for the prototype is 1737, a version at Rokeby [1] and Faber junior's engraving being so dated. A full-length pair, the portrait of Augusta signed and dated 1737, bought from the Turnor sale, Christie's, 4 December 1931, lot 25, is now in the Royal Collection (Sir Oliver Millar, The Tudor Stuart and Early Georgian Pictures in the collection of Her Majesty The Queen, 1963, 531, 532) and an elaborate seated variant, also signed and dated 1737 showing the Princess nursing her daughter Augusta, born 31 October 1737, is at Warwick Castle.

Footnotesback to top

1) Information, O. Millar.

Physical descriptionback to top

Deep blue eyes, pink cheeks, grey wig or own hair, falling behind shoulders; small crown, pearl earrings, single collar of pearls, oyster grey brocaded dress with half sleeves and wide skirt, ermine-lined crimson cloak; dark green drapery and behind it a column, left; a throne surmounted with Prince of Wales' feathers, right.

Conservationback to top

Surface cleaned 1954.

Provenanceback to top

Bought, 1925, from Charles Newman of Duke Street, who also offered the companion portrait of Frederick; both presumably from Sotheby's, 31 January 1924, lots 96 and 97, property of A. M. Champernowne, removed from Dartington Hall and stated in the sale catalogue to have been given to Dr John Hollings, then court physician, who married a Champernowne; according to the Dictionary of National Biography, however, it was one of Hollings' daughters who married a Champernowne.

Reproductionsback to top

The type engraved by J. Faber junior [NPG D10777] (J. Chaloner Smith, British Mezzotinto Portraits, 1878-83, 19) and lettered as painted ad Vivum in 1737.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Kerslake, Early Georgian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1977, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

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