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). Instead of the simplicity and informality of the source (OM 1195) the King is here shown wearing robes of state with the collar of the Order of the Garter.