King George III (1738-1820) reigned 1760-1820

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Hospitality, Lancaster House

Allan Ramsay was born in Edinburgh. After two years of study in Italy, he settled in London in 1738. From the 1740s until the emergence of Reynolds as a rival in the mid-1750s, he maintained a reputation as Britain’s leading portraitist. He was also one of the wealthiest painters, amassing a fortune of about £40,000. In May 1757, a few months after his return to England from a three-year stay in Italy, Ramsay received a commission from John, Third Earl of Bute, to paint the young Prince of Wales (the future George III). It was the success of this portrait which led George III to appoint Ramsay as his Principal Painter. Ramsay’s love of Italy did not diminish with age. He died at Dover in August 1784, returning from his last Italian journey.

People

George III (1738 - 1820)

Places

Subjects

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Allan, (after) Ramsay

Title

King George III (1738-1820) reigned 1760-1820

Date

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 250.00 cm, width: 160.00 cm

Acquisition

Transferred from HM Revenue and Customs, December 2012

Provenance

Acquired by Inland Revenue, Somerset House (origin/date uncertain, before 1938); transferred to Government Art Collection 2012

GAC number

0/144