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Lot Essay
This portrait relates to Morier's equestrian portrait of King George II in the Royal Collection. The original version was painted circa 1745 and was probably presented by King George II to Charles, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, when it was engraved by Simon Ravenet. It was the source of many copies and variants by Morier and his followers.
The scene in the background is probably intended to commemorate the King's victory at Dettingen on 27 June 1743. On the night of 26 June, the French troops, under the command of Marshall Noailles came across the English army and took up a strong position at Dettingen. Despite this advantage, they were driven back by the allied forces exhorted by King George II, 'Now boys, now, for the honour of England; fire and behave bravely and the French will soon run'. The courage he showed at Dettingen restored the King's popularity, which had been undermined by his public arguments with his son Frederick, Prince of Wales. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) composed a Te Deum in commemoration of the battle.
David Morier was born in Bern, Switzerland. Very little is known of his early career before 1743 when Sir Edward Fawkener introduced him to the third son of King George II, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. Morier painted many military portraits, often of the Duke and King George II, and his portraits show a fine attention to the detail of the uniforms of that time. In 1747 Morier accompanied his patron to the Low Countries, where he painted the Royal Artillery in the Netherlands and a series of sixty pictures of the allied troops under the Duke's command (Royal Collection). Following the death of the King and the Duke of Cumberland, Morier received further commissions from King George III, but his Royal patronage ceased in 1767. He died in relative poverty and was buried on 8 January 1770 at St. James's, Clerkenwell Green, at the expense of the Society of Artists.
The scene in the background is probably intended to commemorate the King's victory at Dettingen on 27 June 1743. On the night of 26 June, the French troops, under the command of Marshall Noailles came across the English army and took up a strong position at Dettingen. Despite this advantage, they were driven back by the allied forces exhorted by King George II, 'Now boys, now, for the honour of England; fire and behave bravely and the French will soon run'. The courage he showed at Dettingen restored the King's popularity, which had been undermined by his public arguments with his son Frederick, Prince of Wales. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) composed a Te Deum in commemoration of the battle.
David Morier was born in Bern, Switzerland. Very little is known of his early career before 1743 when Sir Edward Fawkener introduced him to the third son of King George II, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. Morier painted many military portraits, often of the Duke and King George II, and his portraits show a fine attention to the detail of the uniforms of that time. In 1747 Morier accompanied his patron to the Low Countries, where he painted the Royal Artillery in the Netherlands and a series of sixty pictures of the allied troops under the Duke's command (Royal Collection). Following the death of the King and the Duke of Cumberland, Morier received further commissions from King George III, but his Royal patronage ceased in 1767. He died in relative poverty and was buried on 8 January 1770 at St. James's, Clerkenwell Green, at the expense of the Society of Artists.