HRH Princess Amelia

Attributed to Lady Beechey

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An historically significant portrait of Princess Amelia, the youngest daughter and reputedly the favourite child of King George III. Attributed to Lady Beechey; copy of an oil portrait exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1797 painted by her husband, Sir William Beechey, for the then Prince of Wales. There is an identical example of this miniature in the Royal Collection and the Princess is known to have also gifted one to Admiral Sir Harry Neale, captain of the Royal Yacht.

Original gold frame.

Royal sources suggest this may have been painted by Lady Anne Beechey née Jessop (1764-1833/4). She was Sir William Beechey’s second wife and went on to have sixteen children by him, including a set of twins, over a twenty-eight year period, the youngest being born when she was almost sixty years old. She exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1795 and 1805.

Item Ref. 5727

Size: 80 x 63mm (3⅛ x 2½")

Provenance: Anglesey Family ; Albion Collection, Bonhams 2004

Exhibited: Holburne Museum, 1999 ; Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 2000-2003

Literature: Secret Passion to Noble Fashion / A. Sumner & R. Walker, 1999 - p.168