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Primary sourcePaintingnot later than 1762

King George III, Mezzotint after Thomas Frye

Thomas Frye · not later than 1762

A mezzotint portrait of George III at about age 24, made near the start of his reign, showing him wearing the collar of the Order of the Garter.

This mezzotint shows George III as a young king, early in his reign, wearing symbols of royal authority.

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Black and white mezzotint portrait of a man in an embroidered coat with ribbon bows and medallion chains on the shoulders, wearing a powdered wig. Below is an inscription reading 'His most Sacred Majesty George the III, King of Great Britain, &c.' and 'Printed for Carington Bowles in St Paul's Church Yard', with 'Frye pinx' at lower left.
Thomas Frye (original), King George III, c. 1762. Wellcome Collection, London.

About this source

What it is

This is a mezzotint print of King George III, based on a painting by Thomas Frye, made not later than 1762 when the king was about 24 years old. It is held by the Wellcome Collection.

The portrait shows the king half-length, facing right, in an embroidered coat with ribbon bows and medallion chains, wearing a powdered wig and the collar of the Order of the Garter.

Why it matters

Created early in George III's reign, this image shows how the young king was presented to the public, dressed in the symbols of royal status such as the Garter collar. It reflects the work of printmakers like Thomas Frye who shaped public images of monarchs in this period.

Look closer

  • What does the clothing and jewellery in the portrait tell you about the king's status?
  • Why might a young king want to be shown wearing the Order of the Garter?
  • What does this image not tell you about the king's personality or actions?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of George III on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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