Portrait of George III by Allan Ramsay, 1758-60

Portrait of King George III when Prince of Wales, by Allan Ramsay, 1758-60

This is a portrait of the Prince of Wales painted a year or two before he was crowned King George III in 1761. The king enjoyed a lifelong passion for natural philosophy, agriculture and astronomy – interests which were fostered by his tutor and mentor, John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute. It was Bute who first commissioned the Scottish painter, Allan Ramsay, to paint the prince in 1757. Its success led to Ramsay becoming one of the King’s ‘Principal Painters in Ordinary’ and painting his coronation portrait.

In this earlier portrait, the Prince of Wales is presented in three-quarter length, confidently gazing at the viewer. He wears a regal ermine robe over a richly gold embroidered coat and waistcoat, with the collar of the Order of the Garter draped over his shoulders.

George’s reign is sometimes seen as being overshadowed by industrialisation, imperial failures and the debilitating illness that affected him in old age. However, this overlooks the influence he exerted on science and the arts in Britain, thanks to his patronage and interest.