King George IV (1762-1830) as Prince of Wales, & his Brother Frederick, Duke of York and Albany and Bishop of Osnaburgh (1763-1827)

Location

Country: USA
City: Washington DC
Place: British Embassy

Benjamin West was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania. He received some training, probably from John Valentine Haidt, before travelling to Italy in 1760. Whilst there, West met German painter and art critic Anton Raphael Mengs and Scottish history painter Gavin Hamilton. In 1763, he settled in London and exhibited mainly historical subjects, which were well received. In 1772, he became historical painter to King George III and, in 1791, surveyor of the King's pictures - a lucrative position. A founding member of the Royal Academy, West exhibited there from 1769 to 1819 and succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds as President. As well as painting history subjects, he also painted portraits and landscapes and designed stained-glass.
Valentine Green, engraver of portraits and historical subjects after works by his contemporaries, was born at Salford, Worcestershire. He was intended for a career at the Bar, but without his father’s consent, became apprenticed to an obscure line engraver in Worcester. When he came to London in 1765 he began working in mezzotint and engraved nearly 400 plates over the next 40 years. In 1775 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy and was appointed Mezzotint Engraver to George III. In 1789 he obtained the exclusive privilege of engraving the pictures of the Dusseldorf, but was ruined when the city was besieged in 1798. In 1805 he was made Keeper of the newly founded British Institution, a post he retained until his death.

People

George IV (1762 - 1830), Prince, Duke of York and Albany Frederick (1763 - 1827)

Places

Subjects

royal portrait, male portrait, group portrait, boy, 18th century costume, ceremonial costume, Prince, Duke, palace interior, curtain, carpet

Materials & Techniques

mezzotint

Artist

Benjamin West (1738 - 1820)
Valentine Green (1739 - 1813)

Title

King George IV (1762-1830) as Prince of Wales, & his Brother Frederick, Duke of York and Albany and Bishop of Osnaburgh (1763-1827)

Date

published 4 November 1789

Medium

Mezzotint

Acquisition

Purchased from Colnaghi, March 1973

GAC number

10049