Queen Charlotte (of Mecklenburg-Strelitz) (1744-1818)
studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1780 - 1785
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
2388 x 1473 mm (94 x 58 in)
Order this imageCollection
Attingham Park, Shropshire
NT 609028
Caption
Princess Charlotte Sophia, daughter of Charles Louis Frederick, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz married George III in 1761. Just before her marriage she was described by Thomas Gray in a letter to the Rev. James Brown as ‘thin, and not very tall, fine, clear, light brown hair (not very light neither), very white teeth, mouth – nose straight and well-formed, turned up a little at the end, and nostril rather wide; complexion inclining a little to yellow but little colour; dark and not large eyes, hand and arm not perfect …’. The pendant of this picture, of George III, is also at Attingham. Both pictures are later copies of the portraits painted in 1779 for the Royal Academy. Reynolds used these as models for the state portraits that he was obliged to supply when he was Painter in Ordinary to the King from 1784. They were produced by his studio until his death.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Queen Charlotte (of Mecklenburg-Strelitz) (1744-1818), studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds (Plympton 1723 - London 1792), circa 1780/5. A full-length portrait as a young woman, seated on throne turned three-quarters to left, head inclined to spectator, wearing a crown and an elaborate gold embroidered satin gown; a crimson velvet and ermine lined train draped on chair; a table left on which lies a sceptre, columns in the background and large drapes. Companion picture to 'King George III (1738–1820)'.
Provenance
3rd Lord Berwick collection. 1847 Catalogue of Paintings, p.22; 1861 Inventory p.228; 1913 Inventory p.64; bequeathed to the National Trust with the estate, house and contents of Attingham by Thomas Henry Noel-Hill, 8th Baron Berwick (1877-1947) on 15th May 1953.
Credit line
Attingham Park, The Berwick Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
On reverse of canvas (top and bottom): T. Brown / High Holborn / LINEN, (stamped in ink) - an Imperial crown over partly legible writing ... LINEN 39 (?), (stamped in ink) 396 G 7332616 (encased in boxes) On stretcher (left): 41 On stretcher (bottom): ATT/P/092 On stretcher (right): 14 On reverse of frame (top): 14 On reverse of frame (bottom): ATT/P/092
Makers and roles
studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792), artist