King George II

This portraitback to top

Given to Dahl in the 1888 catalogue, NPG 205 relates to two portraits by Kneller, both signed and dated 1716, at Windsor Castle (Sir Oliver Millar, The Tudor Stuart and Early Georgian Pictures in the collection of Her Majesty The Queen, 1963, 344) and St James's Palace (Sir Oliver Millar, The Tudor Stuart and Early Georgian Pictures in the collection of Her Majesty The Queen, 1963, 343). The latter, with the companion portrait of Caroline (Sir Oliver Millar, The Tudor Stuart and Early Georgian Pictures in the collection of Her Majesty The Queen, 1963, 345, pl.148), [1] was apparently regarded as the official image of George, Prince of Wales, and his spouse. The portrait, after his accession, was repeatedly engraved with the crown added and accessories suitably altered. NPG 205 probably derives from some such source, perhaps J. Smith's engraving of 1727 showing the two-arched crown, but it is debatable whether the painting is of that year, or earlier and altered.

Footnotesback to top

1) For a copy, see Caroline, Queen, NPG 529.

Physical descriptionback to top

Youthful face, dark bright eyes, full lips, long wig falling well below his shoulder, left; crimson ermine-edged mantle drawn back over a steel cuirass decorated with gilding, Garter ribbon, white cravat, full white sleeves, white stockings, elaborately decorated boots, crimson drapery held in his left hand at waist; the crown on a table, right; stone floor, dark brown curtain background.

Conservationback to top

Discoloured and perished varnish; some paint shrinkage in the background along the side stretchers; surface cleaned and varnished twice between 1895 and 1900.

Provenanceback to top

Bought, 1865, without artist's name, from Willis and Sotheran, booksellers of Charing Cross.

Reproductionsback to top

By J. Simon (J. Chaloner Smith, British Mezzotinto Portraits, 1878-83, 73) and J. Smith (J. Chaloner Smith, British Mezzotinto Portraits, 1878-83, 103), 1717, both re-issued 1727; also by J. Faber junior, 1724 and G. Vertue, 1727.


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 II

View all known portraits for Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt