His Most Sacred Majesty GEORGE the III. King of Great Britain, &c.

Dateca. 1762

After work by Thomas Frye (ca. 1710 - 1762)

Engraver Richard Purcell

OriginEngland, London

MediumMezzotint engraving

DimensionsOverall: 17 1/8 × 12 3/4in. (43.5 × 32.4cm) Other (Plate): 13 3/4 × 9 7/8in. (34.9 × 25.1cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1985-168,1

DescriptionThe lower margin reads: "His Most Sacred Majesty GEORGE the III. King of Great Britain, &c./ T. FRYE, ad vivum delineavit./ R. PURCELL, fecit."
Label TextThis print is a bust-length portrait of King George III. He is facing front and looking towards the right. He has powdered hair with a knot at the back. He is wearing a lace frill, embroidered dress, and a collar of the Garter.

Thomas Frye was one of the most significant artists working in mezzotint engraving in the eighteenth-century. He was born outside Dublin around 1710, and moved to England at age twenty to work as a painter and engraver. He gained notoriety as the manager at the Bow Porcelain Factory, where he helped develop a recipe for bone china. After resigning his position at Bow, he returned to the medium of mezzotint. Frye’s mastery of this this engraving process is displayed through his ability to achieve dramatic variation in tone, characterized by velvety depths and luminous highlights, that render his subjects both sensitive and shockingly life-like.
InscribedA small piece of laid paper, detached from the folder, has the following inscription in eighteenth-century handwriting: "GEORGE 3.d R.X M.A B.A/ CHARLOTTE R.A M.A B.A/ A.o D.i 1764". This piece of laid paper measures, OH: 3" x OW: 4 1/2".