King George IV (1762-1830) Regent 1811-20, Reigned 1820-30 as Prince of Wales

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

One of the founders of the 18th-century British landscape school, Thomas Gainsborough was also the creator of the so-called ‘fancy picture’, depicting rustic figures - usually children - posed in rural settings. Born in Suffolk, he studied in London from about 1739 to 1748 under the French painter and engraver Hubert Gravelot and the British painter Francis Hayman at the St Martin’s Lane Academy. Gainsborough returned to Suffolk in 1748, where he worked as a landscape and portrait painter until 1759, before moving to Bath. There he quickly developed into a much sought-after society painter. In 1774, he moved to London where he exhibited his work in his studio. He died in London in 1788.
Printmaker and publisher John Raphael Smith is best known for his mezzotints. He was born in Derby and apprenticed to a linen draper. He began his artistic career painting miniatures and engraved his first mezzotint in 1769. In 1784 he became Mezzotint Engraver to the Prince of Wales. Smith produced thousands of prints during his career, which he distributed throughout the UK and to St Petersburg, Milan and Paris. However, after the French Revolution caused a decline in exports, he opened the Morland Gallery in King Street, Covent Garden, initially producing 36 prints after works by George Morland. Smith spent his final years travelling throughout Yorkshire, in response to commissions for pastel portraits. He died in Doncaster, aged c.61.

People

George IV (1762 - 1830)

Places

Subjects

horseback, royal portrait, male portrait, tree, horse, 18th century costume, military uniform, boots, breeches, King, Prince, soldier

Materials & Techniques

mezzotint

Artist

Thomas Gainsborough (1727 - 1788)
John Raphael Smith (1752 - 1812)

Title

King George IV (1762-1830) Regent 1811-20, Reigned 1820-30 as Prince of Wales

Date

published 5 May 1789

Medium

Mezzotint

Acquisition

Purchased from Colnaghi, October 1953

GAC number

2313