Artwork

Frederick Louis (1707-51), prins van Wales. Zoon van koning George II

Frederick Louis (1707-51), prins van Wales. Zoon van koning George II is an ivory painting. It dates from 1737 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. This ivory miniature portrays Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales (1707–1751), the eldest son of King George II.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

This 1737 ivory portrait depicts Frederick, Prince of Wales (1707–1751), the son of King George II.

This 1737 ivory portrait depicts Frederick, Prince of Wales (1707–1751), the son of King George II. As a formal portrait, the work functions primarily as a dynastic record, identifying the sitter through his royal lineage rather than through complex allegorical symbolism. The choice of ivory as a support medium suggests an object intended for intimate viewing or personal possession, distinguishing it from larger-scale state portraits painted in oil.

The image serves to document the likeness of the British heir apparent during the mid-18th century, preserving his visual identity within the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1737, this portrait of Frederick, Prince of Wales, is a miniature painting rendered on an ivory support. The work measures 7.5 cm in height and 5.7 cm in width, reflecting the intimate scale characteristic of the genre. Created by an anonymous artist, the piece utilizes ivory as its primary material, a medium favored during this period for its smooth surface and ability to capture fine detail in portraiture.

The classification as a painting underscores the application of pigment to the prepared ivory sheet to achieve the likeness of the subject, the son of King George II.

History & Provenance

This ivory portrait of Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, was created in 1737. The work is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum (Nederlandsch Museum voor Geschiedenis en Kunst). While the specific circumstances of its commission and its ownership history prior to entering the museum are not detailed in the available records, the piece is identified as an anonymous painting depicting the son of King George II.

The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It is catalogued under inventory number SK-A-264 and has been displayed in the museum's portrait gallery as part of the exhibition "Portraits of the Royal Family" in 2019.

Overview

This ivory miniature portrays Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales (1707–1751), the eldest son of King George II. Rendered in delicate paint on a smooth ivory surface, the work captures the young prince in a formal pose, his features illuminated against a dark background that enhances the three‑dimensional effect of the portrait.

Context

In the early 1700s, miniature portraits functioned as portable representations of status and lineage. Frederick Louis, as heir apparent, was a frequent subject of such works, which reinforced his visibility within the royal family and among foreign courts.

Legacy

The piece contributes to the corpus of British royal miniatures, offering insight into the material culture of portraiture and the visual conventions that framed princely identity before the eventual accession of his son, George III.