Sir John Lavery (1856-1941)
King George V (1865-1936) Signed and dated 1913
Oil on canvas | 86.2 x 69.5 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external) | RCIN 407142
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This portrait is presumably a worked up sketch for the large Royal Family portrait of 1913, now in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG 1745). The finished group portrait was commissioned by Hugh Spottiswoode for presentation to the nation. A sketch of the finished group and two sketches of Prince Edward (1894-1972) and Princess Mary (1897-1965) were all presented by the artist to Queen Mary in 1913 (RCIN 407134, 407133, and 407132). This portrait and that of Queen Mary (RCIN 407141) were also later presented by Lavery, probably in July 1918.
The King's diary reveals that he sat for the artist on the 20th February and the 3rd and 13th April at Buckingham Palace, and on the 9th March and 10th April, accompanied by Queen Mary, he visited Lavery's studio in Cromwell Place. This last date was probably the occasion when, so Lavery relates in his autobiography, the King, being so pleased with the group portrait, "said he would like to have a hand in it, and thinking that royal blue might be an appropriate colour, I mixed it on the palette, and taking a brush he applied it to the Garter ribbon – the Queen, not to be outdone, following his example.." Lavery takes care to point out in his book the links with the Spanish Court Painter, Velasquez, whose paintings in the Prado Lavery had copied in 1892. King Philip IV of Spain is said to have painted the Red Cross of the Knights of Calatrava on the breast of the painter in Velasquez's 'Las Meninas'. Indeed, Lavery paid tribute to 'Las Meninas' in the contemporary painting of his studio (1913, National Galley of Ireland) in which he introduces a mirror into the back of the room to record the painter at work.
Unlike the group study and the finished painting the King is depicted wearing a dark blue greatcoat over his military uniform. He wears the riband and star of the Garter; Sovereign's Badge and the star of the Order of the Bath and the Royal Victorian chain.
The portrait was exhibited at the RSA in 1914 (207) and the Royal Academy in 1918 (26).
The French-style carved frame is by E. Remy of 153 King's Road, a frame maker favoured by Lavery at this time.Provenance
Presented to King George V and Queen Mary by the artist in 1918
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Creator(s)
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Medium and techniques
Oil on canvas
Measurements
86.2 x 69.5 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external)
117.1 x 101.4 x 16.0 cm (frame, external)
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Object type(s)