Creator(s)
Sir David Wilkie (1785-1841) (artist)
279.4 x 179.1 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external)
266.7 x 179.1 cm (support (etc), excluding additions)
191.2 x 7.5 cm (frame, external)
Commissioned by George IV who paid 500 guineas for it in 1830; added to the inventory of Carlton House dated 1819 (no 633)
- Social sciences
- Ethnology
- Costume & National dress
- Costume-Great Britain
- Costume-Scotland
- Scottish Highland Dress
- Costume-Scotland
- Costume-Great Britain
- Costume & National dress
- Ethnology
- Science, Medicine and Technology
- Engineering & Technology
- Military engineering
- Arms (weapons)
- Side arms (weapons)
- Swords
- Side arms (weapons)
- Arms (weapons)
- Military engineering
- Home economics
- Furniture & accessories
- Seating. Chairs
- Chairs
- Thrones
- Chairs
- Seating. Chairs
- Furniture & accessories
- Engineering & Technology
- Genealogy and Heraldry
- Heraldry
- Insignia (heraldic)
- Insignia-Badges (heraldic)
- Insignia-Stars (heraldic)
- Insignia-Ribbons (heraldic)
- Insignia (heraldic)
- Orders (honour)
- Order of the Golden Fleece (Burgundy/Spain/Austria)
- Order of the Garter (England)
- Order of the Thistle (Scotland)
- Heraldry
OM 1183
In August 1822 George IV became the first Hanoverian monarch to visit Scotland. At a levée held at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, all 1,200 attendees were encouraged to wear tartan.
The king himself wore full Highland dress, incorporating a doublet and kilt of Royal Stewart tartan embroidered with thistles as well as ‘buff-coloured trowsers like flesh to imitate his Royal knees’. The full outfit was recorded in this portrait, with the artist writing admiringly of the king, ‘He looked exceedingly well in tartan’.