A study for the State Portrait of King Edward VII (RCIN 404553), given by the artist's son, LV Fildes, to King George V in 1927.

On his accession, Edward VII sought the advice of Sir Edward Poynter as to who should be chosen to paint the State Portrait and followed his recommendation in selecting Luke Fildes. Sittings took place at Fildes's studio at Melbury Road, where, the artist reported, the King never assumed the posture of the portrait, but sat in an armchair on a dais (LV Fildes, 1968, p160). Apparently the strong north light in the studio had exacerbated the tendency for the King's eyelids to droop and the King's heavy eyelids are almost perceptible in this informal study.

On 19 May 1927 LV Fildes wrote to Lord Stamfordham, the King's Private Secretary, explaining that amongst the works left in his father's studio on his death were four studies for royal portraits: 'These works, on my mother's death, have come into the possession of my brothers & sisters & myself & we should wish if The King would permit it – to place them at His Majesty's disposal. We are all the more anxious to do so because we understand that my father himself expressed a similar wish to the King with regard to one or more of these works & that His Majesty was pleased to approve the suggestion' (V&A Eng MSS 86 PP 8).

Lord Stamfordham replied to Fildes on the 28 May 1927, reporting that: 'His Majesty is particularly pleased with what seems to be almost a finished portrait of King Edward.' (See also RCINs 405393, 405395, 406471).