Prince Adolphus, later Duke of Cambridge (1774-1850)

Prince Adolphus, later Duke of Cambridge, painted around 1782 and in the Royal Collection, depicts one of George III's youngest sons at approximately eight years old as part of the comprehensive royal portrait series. Adolphus (1774-1850) would later serve in the army, become an elder statesman, and govern Hanover on behalf of the Crown through the personal union between Britain and Hanover that lasted until Queen Victoria's accession. Gainsborough's portrait preserves him in childhood with the warmth and natural ease he brought consistently to young sitters in the royal series, the formal requirements of official portraiture balanced against his preference for unforced expression. The 1782 series represents Gainsborough at the peak of his royal favor — he was producing portraits of virtually the entire extended family, the commission confirming his position alongside Reynolds as the foremost portrait painter in England. His ability to sustain consistent quality and individual characterization across so many portraits in a concentrated period demonstrates the extraordinary fluency of his mature technique.

Part of the Windsor royal series, the portrait captures the young prince with Gainsborough's characteristic warmth toward child subjects. The handling is refined yet spontaneous, with thin glazes creating the luminous complexion typical of his child portraits.