George III (1738-1820)

Johann Zoffany painted George III around 1771, a formal royal portrait that demonstrates his ability to operate at the highest level of official portraiture alongside his more personal conversation pieces. George III was Zoffany's most important royal patron, whose commission for The Tribuna of the Uffizi (1772–78) sent him to Florence at royal expense to paint the gallery's collection and its English visitors. His portrait of the king combines the formal dignity required of official portraiture with the specific characterization of the individual that was Zoffany's essential gift: George III as a specific, recognizable person rather than a ceremonial emblem of monarchy.

Zoffany renders the king with his characteristic meticulous detail and natural coloring. The straightforward composition and careful finish create a portrait that emphasizes the king's personal presence rather than the trappings of monarchy.