Sir William Samuel Henry Llewellyn (1858-1941)

Queen Mary (1867-1953)

Oil on canvas | 279.9 x 183.7 x 3.8 cm | 1911-12

Royal Collection Trust/© His Majesty King Charles III 2023

   The State Portrait of Queen Mary (1867-1953) was commissioned by the Lord Chamberlain in 1911 and was first exhibited at the Royal Academy the following year (150). Queen Mary is depicted standing full length in Coronation Robes in an interior; a landscape is visible to the left of the column behind the Queen. She wears a gown of white satin decorated in gold with the emblems of the British Isles, the Rose, Shamrock and Thistle. The dress is decorated with the star and riband of the order of the Garter. The Queen wears the George IV State Diadem and by her right hand rests her crown, designed especially for the 1911 Coronation. The Queen is depicted also wearing, as at the Coronation, Queen Victoria's diamond stud earrings; at the bottom of her diamond collar, Queen Victoria's diamond collet necklace; and at the bottom of the diamond stomacher, which also belonged to Queen Victoria, hang three Queen Victoria bow brooches. On her wrists Queen Mary wears William IV's buckle bracelets.

   Llewellyn had been chosen on the strength of his portrait of the Countess of Marlborough, whilst Luke Fildes (1843-1927) was selected to paint the State Portrait of King George V (1865-1936) (RCIN 402023). Queen Mary's diary records that she sat to the artist at Buckingham Palace on 14 May, 1911 and again on 15 February, 1912. The portrait was seen by the King and Queen on 31 March 1912. Formal permission was given to Messrs. Agnew to publish an engraving of the portrait in 1912.

   A letter from Queen Mary to the Prince of Wales of 4 May 1912 recalls that she 'went to the Royal Academy on Thursday, there are some good pictures but not many. The Coronation Picture is excellent, mine is good, yours by Cope good…. '

   Llewellyn painted a replica of this painting for the Corporation of Liverpool (Walker Art Gallery) dated 1912. In this version Queen Mary's Crown, on the table on the left, appears to be painted out, but drapery still covers some of the table. A version painted for the United Service Club was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1913 (205). Numerous copies were made of this official image of the Queen for embassies, institutions and clubs throughout the Empire.

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