Lot Essay
The prince regent's interest in Lawrence's work was almost certainly stimulated by Charles Stewart, later 3rd Marquess of Londonderry. He had painted the latter for the first time in 1810, yet more important than the painting was the unexpected friendship which quickly sprang up between the painter and the aristocratic soldier-cum-diplomat. it was he who persuaded the prince regent to sit for the full-length portrait commissioned by Stewart himself in 1814, the prime of which is now in a private collection (formerly Londonderry collection; see K. Garlick, Sir Thomas Lawrence, Oxford, 1989, p. 193, no. 325c).
A number of versions of mostly studio quality exist, notably at Knole, Pas Newydd (both National Trust) and Schloss Marienburg, Hanover.
A number of versions of mostly studio quality exist, notably at Knole, Pas Newydd (both National Trust) and Schloss Marienburg, Hanover.