Portrait of George I – Studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller

After Sir Godfrey Kneller, 18th century
King George I (1660-1727)

This impressive portrait of King George I of England is a half-length version of the full length original by Sir Godfrey Kneller depicting the monarch in coronation robes. A number of examples exist, most significantly in the Royal Collection and also at Houghton Hall, Norfolk. The King’s captivating glance, full wig, ermine robes and Garter regalia are present, symbolising the his office and indicating the loyalty and continuity of the Hanoverian Dynasty in its accession to the British Throne. George was the great-grandson of James I. It was following of the death of Queen Anne that he he became King in 1714 under the terms of the Act of Settlement, designed to ensure a Protestant succession. His coronation was followed by the ill-prepared 1715 Jacobite Rising in Scotland which resulted in many members of the aristocracy and gentry commissioning images of the king in order to emphasise their loyality and allegiance to the crown under its new auspices. Kneller’s original three-quarter or full-length commissions led to his studio and followers creating a number of head and shoulders variant as in our example. These found popularity, particularly after the distribution of engravings. This portrait has become one of the most memorable and enduring images of the early Hanoverian period.

Sir Godfrey Kneller was the master of English baroque portraiture and was the dominant force in British society portrait painting for over 40 years following the death of Sir Peter Lely in 1680. His style was so revered that his oeuvre was reproduced on a monumental scale through the new industry of engraving which influenced a much broader audience of followers of student portrait artists. shaping the approach to portrait painting well into the 1740s. Remarkably he painted every reigning British monarch from King Charles II to King George I, as well as the most prominent figures in British Society and public life.

Here is a link to a discussion about the George I portrait which took place in our gallery: