Duke of Gloucester

Hidden within this beautifully chased gold bracelet frame is a well-preserved portrait of William Frederick, 2nd Duke of Gloucester. Wearing his field marshal’s uniform of a scarlet coat with an embroidered standing collar, he is decorated with the blue riband and breast star of the Order of the Garter.

Painted by Charlotte Jones, the portrait resides in the original octagonal clasped bracelet frame with a hinged lid, all finely engraved with a scrolling motif. A close copy of this portrait painted by Henry Bone in 1844 in enamel ‘after a miniature’ is held in the Royal Collection. The original, set in a bracelet, is thought to have been bequeathed to Queen Victoria but is no longer in the Royal Collection.

Born in Rome in 1776, William Frederick was the son of the 1st Duke of Gloucester and his wife Maria Countess of Waldegrave. He was also the nephew of King George II. He graduated from the University of Cambridge and joined the army in 1789 with a captain’s commission becoming a full colonel in 1794 and rising steadily through the ranks to become field marshal in 1816. Throughout his life Prince William took a keen interest in charitable causes: he supported Catholic emancipation, was a Trustee of the British Museum and Chancellor of Cambridge University. In 1816 he married his cousin Princess Mary, fourth daughter of King George III. They had no children and are said to have been very happy together. He died in 1834 and was buried at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

Miss Charlotte Jones (1768-1847) took up painting following the death of her father and benefitted from lessons with Richard Cosway and the recognition of Sir Thomas Lawrence who promoted her work. She became a personal friend to Princess Charlotte and was appointed her miniature painter in 1808, first painting her in her cradle. It follows then that there are several examples of her work in the Royal Collection.

APHA Registration: ARTZ4HLP