Vanderbank was born in London; his father was a Huguenot tapestry weaver from Paris, who worked in Holland before coming to England. Vanderbank studied with Kneller and briefly set up his own Academy. According to George Vertue, ‘only intemperance prevented him from being the greatest portraitist of his generation’. This equestrian portrait was painted for a loyal subject (perhaps Richard Bateman, 1705-73) rather than the King, but is clearly influenced by the Dahl portrait of Prince George from the previous reign (OM 382, 405895, then hanging at Windsor) and Van Dyck's 'Charles I' (then in the collection of the Duke of Marlborough, now in the National Gallery). The King is shown mounted on a dun horse, wearing a red jacket, black boots and hat with the Riband and Star of the Order of the Garter and holding up a baton in his right hand. Members of the Household Cavalry can be seen beyond.