Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex

This portraitback to top

Guy Head, a native of Carlisle, spent many years abroad, finally settling in Rome where he joined the colony of English artists and made a living copying Old Masters and painting portraits of English residents, among whom was Prince Augustus. The Prince married Lady Augusta Murray in Rome in 1793 and Head's portrait was probably painted a few years later, the sitter appearing to be aged about 25 and certainly older than in the Gauffier portrait of 1793.
On acquisition in 1881 the portrait was catalogued as 'Painted at Rome by Guy Head about 1798' which seems reasonable, though there is no firm documentation. It is unlikely to have been later; Guy Head was in Naples late in 1798, painting a portrait of Nelson after the Battle of the Nile. He and his family were evacuated to Palermo in December, returning to England in May 1799. He died the following year.
The Prince's marriage was declared void by the King but there were two children, the youngest Ellen Augusta marrying Sir Thomas Wilde, later Lord Truro the Lord Chancellor; this may have been the connection with the legator, Lord Hatherley, also Lord Chancellor.

Physical descriptionback to top

Half-length seated to right in Windsor uniform (dark blue coat with scarlet collar and cuffs, brass buttons), Star of Garter, white waistcoat, white neckcloth and cravat; left hand on stone ledge holding gloves; long wavy brown hair, grey eyes; no inscription.

Provenanceback to top

Lord Hatherley and bequeathed by him 1881.

Exhibitionsback to top

RA, 1800 (30); 'Faces as Art', NPG, 1976; on loan to HM Embassy, Paris, since 1981.

Reproductionsback to top

Stipple by Anthony Cardon published 15 April 1801.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Walker, Regency Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, 1985, 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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