Painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller a German-born painter who settled in England and became the leading court and society portraitist here in the late 17th and early 18th century. Kneller established a workshop-studio in London with a large team of specialised assistants, many of them foreign, organised for the mass production of fashionable portraits.
A full length figure the size of life, in a flowing wig standing in Coronation Robes. The face is turned in three quarters. The cloak is of light puce velvet with a coat lined with ermine and turned up, the velvet edged with broad gold lace. Over the shoulders an ermine cape and over that the Collar and George of the Garter. Lace neckcloth and ruffles.
The right hand grasps a golden orb, set with pearls, which stands on a table covered with crimson cloth edged with gold lace. On the same table is a sceptre, the same as that in the other picture of George I., but the crown is different. It has different arching and has a purple velvet cap, not crimson, white stockings and shoes with red heels.
It is a similar picture to the State portrait in St James’s Palace and others at Windsor and Chevening. There is a distant view of St Stephen’s Chapel (House of Commons) and the east end of Westminster Abbey by the River Thames
Wokingham Town Museum Unique Identifier: WTH0010