18th.Century British School After John Hoppner R.A. Portrait of Princess Amelia Of Great Britain as an infant, whole length with lace cap, low gown, and sash around her waist. Seated with both hands resting on a drum in her lap. With a spaniel to the right, drapery to the left, and a view of a landscape in the background. Oil on canvas 69 by 89 cms. 88.5 by 108 cms. Overall in later 19th.Century gilt gesso frame. Canvas relined some bitumenisation to paint to no real detriment.
Princess Amelia (1783-1810) was the youngest daughter of George III. The six daughters in the family lived secluded lives and their parents were reluctant to allow them to marry. Princess Amelia, the King's favourite daughter, suffered from poor health and from the age of 15 it became clear that she had tuberculosis. In 1801, she was sent to Weymouth for her health where Colonel Charles Fitzroy (1762–1831), second son of Lord Southampton, accompanied her. She hoped to marry him and told her brother, the Duke of York, that she considered herself married, and took to using the initials A. F. R. (Amelia FitzRoy). She died in 1810 and news of her death seems to have contributed to the final collapse of her father's health.