King George III Reviewing the 10th Dragoons

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Ministry of Defence, Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich

This work shows King George III reviewing the tenth Dragoons and the third Dragoon Guards as they perform a mock combat exercise in Hyde Park, London. To the left of the king is his second eldest son, Frederick, Duke of York, who was Commander-in-Chief of the army. The ‘Tarleton’ headdress (including a crest of black fur and a white feather plume) worn by the future Prince Regent, remains in the Royal Collection today. Just behind the king is George, Prince of Wales, colonel of both the tenth Dragoons and the third Dragoon Guards. George III and his sons are shown surrounded by various staff officers.

This is a copy of artist William Beechey’s vast 17 foot wide painting titled ‘His Majesty Reviewing the Third Dragoon Guards and the Tenth Light Dragoons’, which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1798. After its exhibition, the painting hung at Windsor Castle, where it remained on display for nearly 200 years. However, on 20 November 1992 the painting was destroyed by a fire at the castle.

Sir William Beechey was born in Burford, Oxfordshire. After his father’s death (1789) he was raised by his uncle and initially apprenticed to a firm of solicitors. In 1772 he moved to London to enter the Royal Academy Schools. He soon married and his children include painter and explorer Henry William. From c.1782 he worked in Norwich, returning to London in 1787. Beechey was a widow by 1793, when he married miniature painter Anne Phyllis Jessop. In 1794 he became a member of the Royal Academy, received a knighthood and exhibited ‘His Majesty Reviewing the Third Dragoon Guards’, his most celebrated work. He was named portrait painter to the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Principle Portrait Painter to William IV before his death aged 85.

People

George III (1738 - 1820), George IV (1762 - 1830), Prince, Duke of York and Albany Frederick (1763 - 1827), Sir William Fawcett (1727 - 1804), Sir David Dundas (1735? - 1820), Philip Goldsworthy ( - 1801)

Places

Subjects

horseback, history painting, horse, military uniform, boots, feather (fashion accessory), King, parade, sword, royal review

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Sir William, (circle) Beechey

Title

King George III Reviewing the 10th Dragoons

Date

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 72.00 cm, width: 91.50 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Christie's, March 1954

Inscription

none

Provenance

Collection of Sir Aymer Maxwell Baronet; by whom sold through Christie's, London, on 5 March 1954 (Lot 113); from which sale purchased by Richard Walker on behalf of the Ministry of Works

GAC number

2670