Prince Frederick (1763-1827), Duke of York, was the second son of George III and Queen Charlotte. He was brought up with the Prince of Wales (later George IV) and the two remained close throughout their lives. In November 1780 Prince Frederick was gazetted colonel and left London for Hanover in order to complete his military education. The Prince married Princess Frederica, eldest daughter of Frederick William II, King of Prussia on 29 September 1791. He commanded the British army in Flanders 1793-5, was appointed Field Marshal in 1795, and was Commander-in-Chief of the British forces 1798-1809.

The portrait in the present fan is ultimately based on a bust by J. Lochee exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1787, following sittings given by the Duke in Germany. The portrait type proved very popular. Two years later it was copied in a drawing by Sir Thomas Lawrence. The engraving by Edmund Scott after Lawrence’s drawing, published in 1789, was presumably the basis for the portrait in the present fan.

The Prince’s portrait is painted onto the flat area of ivory in the shape of a medallion, spread over six separate sticks. The medallion appears in the centre of the fan when it is opened. The remainder of the ivory sticks have been cut with a number of different patterns. The design of this fan is typical of the late eighteenth century.

Text adapted from Unfolding Pictures: Fans in the Royal Collection 2005