King George I

This portraitback to top

A rather crude version of the standard Kneller coronation portrait of 1714, engraved by Vertue in 1715. Kneller received payment for copies from at least 6 May 1715 (Sir Oliver Millar, The Tudor Stuart and Early Georgian Pictures in the collection of Her Majesty The Queen, 1963, 361), and though his own hand is nowhere apparent, the paint seems contemporary and the picture may well have come from his studio. A version said to be signed and dated 1716 has now come to light in an English private collection. [1]

Footnotesback to top

1) Information, O. Millar, 1970.

Physical descriptionback to top

Dark brown eyes, long grey wig falling in front of his shoulder, right, and behind, left; Garter robes, the scarlet surcoat leaving his left knee uncovered, the blue mantle folded back over his left arm falls over the arm of his chair to the red Turkey carpet; long lace cravat, grey waistcoat and breeches, white shirt with lace cuffs, white hose, buff shoes, a small ring on the little finger of his left hand; in front of an alcove, left, on a red cloth-covered table, crown, orb and sceptre, and white plumed hat of the order; the wall, right, is covered in deep red.

Conservationback to top

Lightly cleaned, 1879 and 1895; surface cleaned and revarnished, 1900.

Provenanceback to top

Transferred, 1879, to the NPG from the British Museum, old Cottonian Library.


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.

View all known portraits for King George I

View all known portraits for Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt