King George I (1660-1727) as Prince George Louis, Elector of Hanover

18th century unknown

Oil on canvas

1698-1714

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  • About the work
    Location
    Country: Netherlands
    City: The Hague
    Place: British Embassy

    Prince George Louis, Elector of Hanover (and later King George I of Great Britain and Ireland) is here shown in armour, standing before a tent.

    Most portraits of the future king painted before 1714 depict him three-quarter length and wearing armour or a cuirass (breastplate and backplate fastened together). Several examples are held in the Brunswick collection at Schloss Blankenburg (Blankenburg Castle), Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. This portrait is closely related to a work by Nuremberg artist J. L. Hirschmann, now only known through John Smith’s half-length engraving, and to a three-quarter length portrait by H. H. Quiter (private collection).

    The portrait was formerly in the collection of politician Sir Frederick Milner of Taplow Lodge, Buckinghamshire. Milner served as conservative MP for York (1883-85) and later MP for Bassetlaw (1890-1906). In 1904 he was appointed a Privy Councillor. After leaving Parliament he became interested in the welfare of disabled soldiers and his later years were dedicated to this cause. Milner sold this portrait to the National Portrait Gallery, London, in March 1904. It was subsequently sold by the gallery to the Government Art Collection in 1920.

  • Explore
    People
    George I (1660 - 1727)
    Places
    Subjects
    royal portrait, man, 18th century costume, ermine, robe, armour, wig, riband, fur, King, Prince, sword, tent/marquee
    Materials & Techniques
    canvas, oil, oil painting
  • Details
    Artist
    18th century unknown
    Title
    King George I (1660-1727) as Prince George Louis, Elector of Hanover
    Date
    1698-1714
    Medium
    Oil on canvas
    Dimensions
    height: 162.50 cm, width: 115.00 cm, depth: 2.50 cm
    Acquisition
    Purchased from Leggatt Bros, 1920
    Provenance
    Collection of politician Sir Frederick George Milner (1849-1931) of Taplow Lodge, Buckinghamshire; from whom purchased by the National Portrait Gallery, London, in March 1904 (Ex-NPG reference number 1366), as '3rd Earl of Peterborough'; from whom purchased by Leggatt Bros on behalf of the Ministry of Works in 1920
    GAC number
    0/115