FDA-P.159-2010
Parts
Object number
FDA-P.159-2010
Object type
Identification
Title
William George
Title Type
assigned by cataloguer
Description
Oil-on-canvas portrait
Comments
The only such portrait of a young boy at Eton, and very similar to the Winchester portraits of the 1730s. William George was the son of a London mercer. He was an assistant master at Eton from about 1720 until 1728, when he became Head Master, holding the post unil 1743, when he was elected Provost of King's. His fame as a Latin poet was such that Pope Benedict IV is said (in respect of the Latin verses he wrote on the death of Prince Frederick - printed in Musae Etonenses 1755) to have exclaimed that had he been a Catholic, he would have made him a cardinal. As this could not be, the verses were christened the cardinal verses.
This, the only known portrait of Eton Head Master William George (HM 1728-43), is also the earliest Eton Leaving Portrait. Unusually for a Leaving Portrait it apparently shows the sitter, not at the time when he left the College, but as a young boy. This work seems to relate to the Winchester College portraits of boys, of the 1730s.
This, the only known portrait of Eton Head Master William George (HM 1728-43), is also the earliest Eton Leaving Portrait. Unusually for a Leaving Portrait it apparently shows the sitter, not at the time when he left the College, but as a young boy. This work seems to relate to the Winchester College portraits of boys, of the 1730s.
Description
Content (person)
George, William, 1697 - 1756 (Sitter)
Content (note)
Half-length, in a green coat and a red wrap, holding a scroll with his name inscribed on it
Sitter painted as a boy
Sitter painted as a boy
Dimensions
height (sight size): 743mm
width (sight size): 620mm
width (sight size): 620mm
Dimension note
Oval
Inscription
I.D. label on frame
Materials & techniques note
Oil on canvas
Physical description
Carved gilt frame, with sanded oval slip with gilt decoration (lower two corners)
Production
Person
Kneller, Godfrey (Sir), 1646 - 1723 (Circle of)
Date
c.1707-10
History and association
Object history note
Exhibited: 'Leaving Portraits from Eton College', Dulwich Picture Gallery, 18 July to 20 October 1991, catalogue number 1
References
• Cust, L., Eton College Portraits, 1910 (p.69)
• Dulwich Picture Gallery, Leaving Portraits from Eton College, exhibition catalogue 1991 (p.26)
• Dulwich Picture Gallery, Leaving Portraits from Eton College, exhibition catalogue 1991 (p.26)
