Lot Essay
Edward Augustus, Duke of York K.G. (1739-1767) was the second son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and his wife Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, aunt of the sitter in lot 180. His eldest brother succeeded as King George III.
Prince Edward entered the navy as a midshipman in 1758 and served under Howe at Cherbourg and, as a Rear-Admiral, under Hawke in 1761: he became a full Admiral in 1766. He went on the Grand Tour in 1763-4, accompanied by the Hon. Henry St. John and Sir William Boothby. While in Rome in the latter year the Duke was painted by Batoni (two autograph portraits are in the Royal Collection and a third in the Howe Collection), by Dance, and, in a conversation piece, by Brompton. Accompanied by Colonel Morrison (lot 184), the Duke set out on a second journey to Italy in the summer of 1767, when this drawing was obviously executed. He became ill and died at Monte Carlo on 17 September.
Prince Edward was the King's favourite brother: Lady Mary Coke's devotion to him was the cause of much contemporary comment
Prince Edward entered the navy as a midshipman in 1758 and served under Howe at Cherbourg and, as a Rear-Admiral, under Hawke in 1761: he became a full Admiral in 1766. He went on the Grand Tour in 1763-4, accompanied by the Hon. Henry St. John and Sir William Boothby. While in Rome in the latter year the Duke was painted by Batoni (two autograph portraits are in the Royal Collection and a third in the Howe Collection), by Dance, and, in a conversation piece, by Brompton. Accompanied by Colonel Morrison (lot 184), the Duke set out on a second journey to Italy in the summer of 1767, when this drawing was obviously executed. He became ill and died at Monte Carlo on 17 September.
Prince Edward was the King's favourite brother: Lady Mary Coke's devotion to him was the cause of much contemporary comment