When Haydn met George in 1791 he described the prince as ‘the most handsome man on God’s earth; he has an extraordinary love of music and a lot of feeling, but not much money.’ George was also struck by his meeting with the composer, commissioning this portrait by John Hoppner. The painting was not finished by the time Haydn left England, but George ordered work on the canvas to cease, appreciating the ‘striking likeness’ that Hoppner had captured.

Commissioned in 1791