Artwork
George III (1738-1820), koning van Engeland
George III (1738-1820), koning van Engeland is a copper painting by the Rococo painting artist Johann Heinrich von Hurter. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Painted by Johann Heinrich von Hurter in 1779, the work belongs to the portrait genre and was later attributed to the same artist in the Rijksmuseum’s holdings.
The portrait depicts George III of Great Britain, ruler from 1760 to 1820, presented in a miniature format measuring 5.5 cm by 4.8 cm on copper support.
Painted by Johann Heinrich von Hurter in 1779, the work belongs to the portrait genre and was later attributed to the same artist in the Rijksmuseum’s holdings. The miniature represents George III in a compact, refined style typical of eighteenth‑century court portraiture, emphasizing his royal status through the direct depiction of the monarch himself rather than elaborate allegorical or symbolic devices.
Technique & Style
This portrait of George III, attributed to Johann Heinrich von Hurter and dated 1779, is executed in casein paint on a copper support. The work is classified as a portrait genre piece, depicting the King of Great Britain with formal precision characteristic of the period. Measuring 5.5 cm in height and 4.8 cm in width, the small scale suggests a miniature format, though the specific handling and condition details are not elaborated in the available records.
The use of copper as a support for casein paint indicates a technique often employed for durable, finely detailed miniatures during the late 18th century.
History & Provenance
The portrait of George III was created by Johann Heinrich von Hurter in 1779, executed in casein paint on a small copper support measuring 5.5 by 4.8 cm. The work entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is currently held. No further details regarding the original commission, patron, or intermediate ownership history are documented in the available sources.
The work is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Its inventory number is SK-A-558. It has been exhibited at the Rijksmuseum in an exhibition titled "Dutch and Flemish Masters from the Rijksmuseum Collection" in 1985 and again in "Portraits from the Rijksmuseum Collection" in 1999.
Context
The painting George III by Johann Heinrich von Hurter was created in 1779 and is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection. It is a portrait executed in casein paint on copper, depicting the British monarch George III. As a work of portraiture from the late 18th century, it reflects the formal conventions of royal representation in European art during that period.
Scholarship on the piece emphasizes its technical and stylistic significance within the oeuvre of Hurter and the broader tradition of court portraiture in the Netherlands.
Overview
Johann Heinrich von Hurter’s 1790 portrait presents King George III of Great Britain on a modestly sized oval copper panel. The work belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies a refined, personal likeness rather than a grand state image.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Heinrich von Hurter (1734–1799) was an artist, born in Schaffhausen.
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