Charlotte, Princess Royal (1766-1828) c. 1795-7
Oil on canvas | 91.5 x 70.3 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external) | RCIN 403413
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In 1800 William Beechey submitted an account to George IV for six portraits of his sisters – this one of his eldest sister, Charlotte, the Princess Royal, Princess Amelia (RCIN 403414), Princess Elizabeth (RCIN 403412), Princess Mary (RCIN 403415) Princess Augusta (RCIN 403416) and Princess Sophia (RCIN 403417) - at forty guineas each.
All six portraits seem intended as intimate and affectionate studies of the Princesses as sensitive and accomplished young ladies for their devoted brother, George IV. A convention seems to be at work that the elder Princesses may be shown dressed in coloured silks, while the three younger sisters appear in virginal white. The Princess Royal was the only married sister at this date: as Duchess of Württemberg she wears the red ribbon of the Royal Order of the Golden Eagle of Württemberg, the only one of this set of portraits to bear such a badge of rank.
Five of the six paintings are recorded at Carlton House and appear there in William Henry Pyne's illustrated 'Royal Residences' of 1819, hanging as overdoors in the South Anti-Room. For some reason this painting was recorded in the Carlton House picture store. All six required restoration by Beechey in 1829.Provenance
Painted for George IV; recorded in store at Carlton House in 1816 (no 361) and 1819 (no 317)
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Medium and techniques
Oil on canvas
Measurements
91.5 x 70.3 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external)
109.1 x 89.2 x 5.0 cm (frame, external)
Category
Object type(s)