Full-length equestrian portrait of King George V (1865-1936) riding Arabian Night, his chestnut Arab horse to the left; holding the reins in his left hand and bowler hat in right; against colonnade background (possibly of Hyde Park); pencil sketch on reverse.

In the latter years of his reign, images of the king schooling Arabian Night on Rotten Row became popular inclusions in the press. He often greeted the public by raising his bowler hat, see RCIN 2108236.

This is a study for the larger portrait in the National Portrait Gallery, London. A label on the reverse, in Queen Mary's hand, records that it was presented to her by the artist in 1937. According to an exchange of letters in February 1936 Whiting had been working on the painting in the Mews at Buckingham Palace for some time and had requested to see that actual clothes the King used to wear whilst riding in the Park (presumably Hyde Park). This suggests that the painting was completed posthumously. Whiting's contemporary Alfred Munnings also painted the King riding 'Jock' in Sandringham Park, c.1935-7 (Colchester & Ipswich Museums Service).

Whiting enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools, but left before the course was completed; travelling instead to the Académie Julian in Paris. He was appointed a tutor at Heatherley School of Art, later becoming Principal. He was elected to the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in 1914.