After his years spent training in Italy (1709-19), William Kent became the leading architect and designer in England and the artist best placed to benefit from aristocratic and royal patronage. His first Royal commission was to decorate Kensington palace, which he gained in 1722 thanks to the support of Lord Burlington; in 1739 he succeeded Jervas as Principal Painter to George II. His painting was never up to the standard of his other work, something seized upon by rivals, such as Hogarth, envious of his success.

This is one of a set of three scenes from the life of Henry V (OM 505-7, 402898-90) presumably executed for Queen Caroline and seen by Horace Walpole in her Dressing Room at St James's Palace in 1758. Queen Caroline's payments to Kent 'for pictures' in 1730 and 1731 may be for these. A payment to William Waters may have been for the magnificent period frames.

In this scene Henry V, in armour and cloak, with his brother and other attendants to the right, greets the Queen, wearing a blue cloak embroidered with fleur-de-lis, and attended on the left by her daughter, Catherine, and other ladies.

Signed: 'Wm Kent Pinxt.'