Princess Charlotte (1796-1817)

A pupil of acclaimed Regency miniature painter Richard Cosway, Charlotte Jones was an accomplished miniaturist in her own right. In 1808 she was appointed miniature painter to Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only child of George IV, painting her on several occasions. Following her patron’s untimely death in 1817, Jones created a series of 12 portraits depicting the princess at various stages of her young life, culminating in a commemorative portrait. Jones mounted the portraits in gold and black frames, and kept them together in a moving tribute to the relationship between patron and artist. They were held as a treasured family possession until they were acquired for the Royal Collection in 1945.