Lot Essay
The present bust-length portrait of the King attired as a Roman emperor, is closely related to the full-length solution, also by the royal goldsmiths Rundell, Bridge and Rundell and dated 1822, of which an example was sold in these Rooms on 19th November 1992, lot 114. Both are based upon Sir Francis Chantrey's likeness of the king, executed in marble in 1821.