William IV (1765-1837)

Martin Archer Shee's state portrait of William IV of 1833 presents the king in his late sixties, three years into his reign following the death of his brother George IV. William's monarchy was defined by the constitutional crisis of the Reform Act and his difficult relationship with Whig governments committed to radical change. Shee was by this point established as President of the Royal Academy and as the leading practitioner of official state portraiture, his work reliably flattering while maintaining recognizable likeness. The portrait documents a reign notable for the paradox of a conservative monarch presiding over a reforming era.

Shee's competent academic technique renders the king in full state robes with careful attention to the details of royal regalia. The conventional composition and polished surface reflect the requirements of official royal portraiture.