Portret van George III van het Verenigd Koninkrijk 1767 - 1794

Here we see William Wynne Ryland’s print of George III of Great Britain. Ryland made this print at a time when the print market was expanding and it was becoming popular for the rising middle classes to decorate their homes with portraits of the royal family. Prints like these were affirmations of British identity and national pride. The formal pose and lavish clothing serve to separate the monarch from ordinary life, reinforcing his power and status. Yet the softer rendering in the print, as opposed to a more formal painting, allowed for wider circulation and consumption. The work asks us to consider how power and status are conveyed through images. While appearing traditional in its representation, the print also reflects the changing social dynamics of the time, and how perceptions of the monarchy were subtly being reshaped. It allows us to consider who gets to participate in defining representations of leadership.