The Entrance of George IV at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

The Entrance of George IV at Holyroodhouse at the National Galleries of Scotland, painted in 1828, documents the historic 1822 visit of George IV to Edinburgh, the first British monarch to visit Scotland in over a century. As Principal Painter in Ordinary, Wilkie occupied the summit of the British art establishment, and his late royal portraits and Middle Eastern subjects reflect his ambition to expand beyond the Scottish genre subjects that had made his name.

The grand ceremonial scene combines architectural setting with the pageantry of the royal entrance. Wilkie manages the complex multi-figure composition with characteristic narrative skill.