The Queen is sitting on a sofa, with embroidery on her lap. The
Princess stands on the right, by her side, and holds the
embroidery. Dated 1776. On canvas, 5 ft. 5 in. high, by 6 ft. 8 in.
wide.
88 Duke of Clarence (William IV.), and Duke of Kent
(_502_) . . . . . WEST.
The Duke of Clarence is on the left, dressed in a blue coat with a
white vest; he has his right hand on a globe, his left on his hip.
The Duke of Kent is in red turned full to the front, but looking at
his brother; his right hand is on his brother's left hand, his left
is pointing upwards. On canvas, 9 ft. 6 in. high, by 7 ft. wide.
Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence, afterwards William IV., was
born August 21st, 1765. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, father of her
present Most Gracious Majesty, was born November 2nd, 1767. This
picture was painted when they were about thirteen and eleven years.
In 1780, the Duke of Clarence went to sea as a midshipman. West
received 250 guineas for the picture.
89 George III. Reviewing the Tenth Dragoons in Hyde Park in 1797
(_168_) . . . . . BEECHEY.
The King is in front on a white horse, whose head is turned to the
left. He is in full regimentals, with a cocked hat. Just behind him
is the Prince of Wales, in the uniform of the 10th, holding up his
sword and giving the word of command. To the left of the King is
the Duke of York, with Generals Goldsworthy and Sir David Dundas;
Sir William Fawcett is standing in front of them. The King is
turning round to speak to them, and points with his right hand to
the cavalry charge in the left distance. On canvas, 13 ft. 8 in.
high, by 16-1/2 ft. wide.
The 10th Light Dragoons (now the 10th Hussars) were frequently
reviewed by George III. in company with the Prince of Wales, who
entered the army as brevet-colonel, November 19th, 1782, and after
whom the regiment was called "The Prince of Wales's Own," on
Michaelmas Day, 1783. In 1793 he was appointed colonel-commandant
of the corps, and succeeded as colonel on July 18th, 1796. The
review commemorated here took place not long after that date, for
the picture is mentioned in a biographical sketch of Sir William
Beechey in _The London Monthly Mirror_ for July, 1798, where we are
told that the King rewarded him for it with the honour of
knighthood. The names of the officers were derived from an account
of a review, which took place in 1799, and which this picture was
formerly supposed to represent; it is therefore doubtful whether
they are quite correct. (See _Notes and Queries_.)
This picture is regarded as Beechey's masterpiece, and was very
much admired at the time. But "although a clever and showy group of
portraits, it has little of real nature, and is full of the
painter's artifices. Thus the King's white horse forms the
principal light, and comes off the Prince of Wales's dark horse,
and so on; the light and shadow of all the heads being the light
and shadow of the studio, and not of the field."--(Redgrave's
_Century of Painters_.) The King had several copies taken of it; in
one, which he gave to Lord Sidmouth, the figure of the Prince was
omitted by the King's own desire, a curious proof of his dislike of
his son. When the Prince became King he hinted that it should be
restored, but this was evaded. Benjamin Smith engraved the portrait
of George III. from this picture.
=King's Privy Chamber.=
Although this room formed part of the state apartments built by Kent, it
was much transformed in the reign of George III., so that it bears
little trace of its original decoration. Indeed, it is so commonplace in
appearance, that, except for the pictures which now hang on its walls,
it looks more like an ordinary bedroom in an old-fashioned country inn
than a king's chamber in a palace. The plain deal dado, the common
chimney-piece of black veined marble, the wood and plaster cornice, the
shutters and windows, are all of the most ordinary and inartistic
pattern.
The dimensions of this room are 31 feet long, 24 feet wide, and 17 feet
high.
=Portraits of the Time of George III.=
90 Portrait of Francis, 5th Duke of Bedford (_961_) . . . . . J.
HOPPNER.
Full-length, turned to the left, looking to the front. He is
dressed in a peer's full robes. His left hand is on his hip, his
right holds a scroll of paper. He is bareheaded, face close-shaven,
and his hair short. Behind him is a red curtain, and in the
distance on the left a statue of Hercules. On canvas, 8 ft. 3 in.
high, by 5 ft. 2 in. wide.
Behind is written:--"Received, 7th April, 1810, from Mrs. Hoppner."
The duke, who was born in 1765, died on March 2nd, 1802.
"More dignified and well painted than the similar one at
Woburn."--_Sir George Scharf._