King George V (1865-1936) Reigned 1910-36

Location

Country: UK
City: Northern Ireland
Place: Belfast, Historic Royal Palaces (long-term loans), Hillsborough Castle

Following the accession King George V, Fildes was invited to paint a state portrait of the new king in 1912. The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy the same year and, as soon as the Academy exhibition closed, was dispatched to another artist’s studio to be copied. The event was reported in the 'Litchfield Mercury' on 19 July:

‘…replicas are to be prepared of the State portrait of his present Majesty, which was painted by [Luke Fildes] ... These portraits are destined for some of the Courts of Europe, and are also to be sent to certain diplomatic and Government buildings abroad. …The [original] Coronation picture, it is understood, will be retained at Buckingham Palace…’

This is one of many versions of this royal portrait, painted by a group of copyists. They were commissioned by the Lord Chamberlain’s Department for display in British embassies and legations across the world. The original work remains in the Royal Collection.

Sir Samuel Luke Fildes, commonly known as Luke Fildes, wasas an illustrator before turning to portrait painting. He was commissioned by the novelist Charles Dickens to illustrate his last novel ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’, published in 1870. In 1874 Fildes’ large painting of ‘Applicants for Admission to a Casual Ward’, showing the destitute queuing in hope of a night of shelter, brought him overnight fame, when it was exhibited at the Royal Academy, accompanied by a quote from Dickens. Fildes continued to paint social realist subjects, but it was as a portrait painter that he found fame and fortune. His painting of the Princess of Wales (later Queen Alexandra) of 1894 led to a series of royal commissions.

People

George V (1865 - 1936)

Places

Subjects

royal portrait, beard, moustache, man, ceremonial costume, ermine, robe, military uniform, riband, tassel, ribbon (as Subject - costume accessory), livery collar, crown, Order of the Star of India, Royal Victorian Order, Order of St. Patrick, Order of St. Michael & St. George, Order of the Garter, Order of the Thistle, King, admiral, sword, curtain, cushion

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Sir Samuel Luke (after) Fildes

Title

King George V (1865-1936) Reigned 1910-36

Date

1912-1935

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 149.00 cm, width: 108.00 cm

GAC number

15524