Full-length, face turned to the right. His right hand is extended,
his left holds back his crimson and ermine cloak. His dress is blue
with rich gold lace. He has a short wig. On canvas, 7 ft. 9 in.
high, by 4 ft. 9 in. wide.
Vanloo came to England in 1737, and this portrait was probably
painted about two years after. He became a very popular artist, and
made a great deal of money, for, as his French biographer
observes:--"L'Angleterre est le pays où il se fait le plus de
portraits et où ils sont mieux payés." Engraved by Baron.
This picture, therefore, dates from the time when the Prince was
about thirty-one years of age, and had been expelled from St.
James's Palace, and was in declared enmity with his father. His
insignificant character, which excited contempt rather than
dislike, is very happily satirized in the famous epitaph:
"Here lies Fred,
Who was alive and is dead;
Had it been his father,
I had much rather;
Had it been his brother,
Still better than another;
Had it been his sister,
No one would have missed her;
Had it been the whole generation,
Still better for the nation;
But since 'tis only Fred,
Who was alive and is dead,
There's no more to be said."