This is one of a pair of state portraits of the King and Queen (OM 1138-9, 405405 and 405407), which are first recorded in (and presumably therefore intended for) the King's Audience Chamber at Hampton Court. Benjamin West painted George III on several occasions, this is the most ambitious and successful image of them all, portraying George III as a confident military commander holding a paper recording troop positions. It was painted to commemorate the events of the summer of 1779, in which the King played an active part. There was threat of an invasion from France and of an attack by the combined fleets of France and Spain. The alarm was at its height in August, when the enemy fleets were in the Channel.

In the background of the painting is a camp by the seashore and ships of the fleet with the Royal George firing a salute. On the shore nearer to hand is the King’s charger held by a groom wearing royal livery. The two mounted officers are Lord Amherst, who wears the uniform of a General with the ribbon and star of the Bath and William, 5th Marquess of Lothian wearing the uniform of a Major-General with ribbon and star of the Thistle. As Commander-in-chief of the land forces during the threat Amherst summoned the militia regiments into the field and in his plan of defence he entrusted the patrolling of the coasts of Kent and Sussex to the 15th Light Dragoons, a detachment of which are also seen in the background.

Signed and dated: Benj. West / 1779