The German artist Johan Zoffany arrived in London in 1760 and soon established a reputation for informal conversation pieces in which accurate and lively portraits were set in surroundings showing the sitters’ taste and circumstances. John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, commissioned portraits of his children from Zoffany c.1763-4 and probably introduced the artist to the King and Queen. The King nominated Zoffany to the new Royal Academy in 1769. He remained in favour for a further ten years, but after the unfavourable reception of The Tribuna was supplanted by other, younger artists. This portrait is one of a pair (OM 1197-8, 402938-9) of good copies, possibly by Zoffany himself, of the heads of his 1771 portraits of the royal couple (OM 1195-6, 405071-2). The Queen is shown in completely different clothes and posture from the original portrait (OM 1196), only the head reveals the source. She is here wearing robes of state, diamonds in her hair, diamond earrings and necklace and pearl and jewels on her corsage and robes.