_-_The_Allied_Sovereigns_at_Petworth%2C_24_June_1814_(George%2C_1751%E2%80%931837%2C_3rd_Earl_of_Egremont%2C_with_His_C_-_486228_-_National_Trust.jpg&width=1200)
The Allied Sovereigns at Petworth, 24 June, 1814
Thomas Phillips·1817
Historical Context
Thomas Phillips's painting The Allied Sovereigns at Petworth of 1817 records the remarkable gathering at Petworth House in June 1814 when the 3rd Earl of Egremont hosted the visiting monarchs and statesmen celebrating Napoleon's first abdication. The czar of Russia, the king of Prussia, and various allied generals visited the estate, and Egremont's great hospitality made Petworth a center of postwar celebration. Phillips documented the gathering as a historical event of significance, recording Egremont's role as host to the victorious alliance. The painting demonstrates the political as well as artistic function of Egremont's remarkable patronage.
Technical Analysis
The group portrait accommodates multiple individual likenesses within the setting of Petworth's grand interior. Phillips's careful rendering of each figure's features and military dress provides documentary value for this historic gathering.
