Ramsay was brought to the attention of the royal family by one of his most important patrons, John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, who in 1758 commissioned a portrait of George III when Prince of Wales (Scottish Private Collection) of which this is a version. The original image was famous enough to appear (in a parodied form) in Hogarth's print 'The Times, Plate 2' of 1762-3. This is the beginning of the association with Bute and with George III which resulted in Allan Ramsay being the ‘one of His Majesty’s Principal Painters in Ordinary’ and assuming all the duties of the King’s painter. The sitter is shown wearing state robes - white and red ermine robe - over an embroidered gold and grey suit. He wears the collar and garter of that Order while his prince's coronet rests on the table beside him.