Portrait of Queen Caroline, 18th Century; After Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723)

An impressive 18th century grand scale portrait of Queen Caroline, when Princess of Wales, standing half length in an interior and wearing a plush ermine lined cape with lace cuffs and floral dress, a crown on a ledge to her right, oil on canvas. There was a large demand for royal images during the period and this demand lead to many copies of notable works created and copied (see the Stirling Art Gallery). The current example was painted in the 18th century and derives from Sir Godfrey Kneller’s work c.1716 in the Royal Collection. Such was the demand Kneller himself created several versions as did other notable artists such as Enoch Seeman etc. Painted to a very large scale and beautifully presented both in condition and its attractive frame this is a fine example of British royal images and historically interesting.

Wilhelmina Charlotte Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1683-1737) known as Caroline of Ansbach, was Queen of Great Britain as the wife of King George II and was one of the most impressive royal women of the 18th century. Daughter of a margrave of the Hohenzollern principality of Brandenburg-Ansbach she was a noted beauty and was a much sought after bride even from an early age. Caroline was first wooed by the Archduke Charles of Austria, Hapsburg claimant to the throne of Spain, but unwilling to renounce her Protestant faith she chose instead to marry in 1705 the still more eligible prince Georg August of Hanover. With the accession of the elector as George I in 1714, Caroline became Princess of Wales (the first Princess of Wales for over 200 years, the last one being Catherine of Aragon) and on his death in 1727 Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, consort of King George II. She became a notable patron of the arts and sciences. She read widely and built a large library at St. James’s Palace and invited such luminaries as Alexander Pope and Isaac Newton to her salons. Caroline also exerted powerful political influence behind the scenes in alliance with Robert Walpole, long-time prime minister of George I and George II, and, exceptionally for a queen consort, she acted as regent during her husband’s prolonged absences in Hanover. The King and Queen could not have been more different. Caroline kept tigers in the gardens while the King remained content with snails and tortoises. He was a bore to her sharp and enquiring mind, off campaigning while Caroline reorganised the gardens, created a cabinet of curiosities and discovered rare and precious treasures in secret closets. Yet they formed a good team, hosting lavish receptions and leading society with sparkle. After Queen Caroline's death in 1737, the court lost much of its sparkle.

Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet (1646-1723) was the leading portrait painter in England during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He took over as official court painter to English and British monarchs from Charles II to George I, from Peter Lely. He has many notable works such as the over 40 "Kit-cat portraits" and the ten "beauties" of the court of William III.

Measurements: Height 146cm, Width 122cm framed (Height 57.5”, Width 48” framed)

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