Queen Charlotte (of Mecklenburg-Strelitz) (1744-1818)
Sir William Beechey (Burford 1753 - Hampstead 1839)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1793
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
2376 x 1423 mm (93 1/2 x 56 in)
Place of origin
Berkshire
Order this imageCollection
Upton House, Warwickshire
NT 446659
Caption
The Queen consort of George III is here shown walking in the garden at Frogmore, with the Round Tower of Windsor Castle shown in the background. Beechey was appointed her portrait painter in 1793. A version, which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1797, is now in the Royal Collection. Instead of Windsor in the background, it shows Frogmore, and it is this version that was engraved by Ryder. Queen Charlotte had a great interest in botany and was given a free rein in the garden at Frogmore, which she laid out with rare and unusual plants. She formed an extensive botanical library and flowers became a major theme in the house.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Queen Charlotte (of Mecklenburg-Strelitz) (1744-1818) by Sir William Beechey RA (Burford 1753 – Hampstead 1839), 1793. A full-length portrait of the Queen, standing, turned to the right, gazing at the spectator, in the garden at Frogmore with Windsor Castle in the distance. The original exhibited picture is in the Royal Collection and a pair to Beechey's portrait of George III.
Provenance
Probably Beechey sale, Foster's, 5 April 1835, lot 76: bought possibly by Ryley - presumably bought in, for similar portrait was included in the artist's sale at Christie's, 11 June 1836, lot 68: bought in; according to Roberts the same picture was passed at a sale at Rainy's, 19 July 1839, lot 43: Captain T. A. Tatton (according to the sale catalogue having been acquired from the artist's family in 1879) Christie's, 14 December 1928, lot 37: bought by Martin for Lord Bearsted for £ 1, 942.10.0; given with Upton House to the National Trust by Walter Samuel, 2nd Viscount Bearsted (1882 – 1948), in 1948, shortly before his death
Credit line
Upton House, The Bearsted Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
Sir William Beechey (Burford 1753 - Hampstead 1839), artist
References
Roberts 1907 William Roberts, Sir William Beechey RA, London 1907, pp. 42-43 W. G. Constable, 'English Painting in Lord Lee's Collection', International Studio, April 1930, p. 42