Frederick, Prince of Wales (1707-1751) in the Hunting Field Signed and dated 1734
Oil on canvas | 213.8 x 275.1 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external) | RCIN 401000
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John Wootton, one of the earliest native English painters, was extensively patronised by the Royal family during the reign of George II: Queen Caroline visited his studio in 1732, by which time he was already working for her son, Frederick, Prince of Wales.
In 1734 payment was made for this painting on behalf of Frederick, Prince of Wales: 150 guineas to Wootton for the landscape; 30 guineas to Hogarth for six heads and 50 guineas to Dufour for the frame. The uniforms tell us that the scene is made up of the Prince and five companions (wearing his blue-coated hunting uniform and with heads, probably painted by Hogarth) and two of his servants (wearing red-coated livery). The painting was seen hanging in the Great Hall at the White House at Kew in 1763 by William Chambers who listed four of the courtiers in the company of Frederick, Prince of Wales.
Based on the names he mentions this scene would seem to represent (from left to right): an unidentified man; Charles Calvert, Lord Baltimore (1699-1751, Gentleman of the Bedchamber seen here bare-headed in profile); the Prince himself (on horseback, wearing the ribbon of the Garter); Lord Boston (1707-75, Chamberlain to the Princess of Wales, seen here standing bare-headed); George, 3rd Earl of Cholmondeley (1703-70, Master of the Horse and seen here leaning over in the saddle and wearing the ribbon of the Bath); and Colonel Pelham (d. 1761, Secretary to the Prince to the right).
A preparatory drawing for the painting is in the Royal Collection (RCIN 913596).Provenance
Commissioned by Frederick, Prince of Wales; described in the Great Hall of Kew Palace by William Chambers in 1763; in the Great Drawing Room at Kensington Palace in 1790 and 1818 (no 311)
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Creator(s)
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Medium and techniques
Oil on canvas
Measurements
213.8 x 275.1 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external)
235.4 x 297.3 cm (frame, external)
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