• Attributed to James Worsdale, Prince Charles Edward Stuart (1720 – 1788), known as “Bonnie Prince Charlie”, the Harlequin Portrait, circa 1745 - 1750
    Attributed to James Worsdale
    Prince Charles Edward Stuart (1720 – 1788), known as “Bonnie Prince Charlie”, the Harlequin Portrait, circa 1745 - 1750
    Oil on canvas
    29 ½ x 24 ¾ in. (74.5 x 63 cm.)
  • Mason Chamberlin RA (1727 – 1787), Daniel Giles of Youngsbury (1761 – 1831), Painted mid-1760s
    Mason Chamberlin RA (1727 – 1787)
    Daniel Giles of Youngsbury (1761 – 1831), Painted mid-1760s
    Oil on canvas
    32 x 45 in. (81.28 x 114.3 cm.)

ABOUT 18TH CENTURY PORTRAITURE

With the death of Queen Anne in 1714, the longstanding Stuart monarchy, who united the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, came to an end in what was now the United Kingdom. With the introduction of the Hanoverian dynasty with King George I, Britain became distinctly more aware of the differences in European culture and what was distinctly 'British'.

 

European court painters, active from the second half of the 17th century onward, like Sir Peter Lely, Sir Godrey Kneller and Michael Dahl, had integrated so well into British society - many even receiving knighthoods - that they can truly be regarded as countrymen of their English counterparts, like William Dobson and John Michael Wright.