The Marriage of George III

The sketch shows the interior of the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace with, on the left, Thomas Secker, Archbishop of Canterbury blessing King George III and Queen Charlotte at the altar. Thomas Hayter, Bishop of London, stands on the right.

This work shows that not all depictions of Royal weddings were officially commissioned. It was one of two produced by Reynolds in an attempt to gain the King's attention, but despite being appointed Principal Painter to the King in 1784, he was never asked to paint anything. This work remained in Reynolds' studio, and was probably acquired for the Royal Collection by Queen Victoria.