Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- Artist: Allan Ramsay
- Date: 1761-1762
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 58 1/4 in. x 42 1/2 in. (1480 mm x 1080 mm)
- Portrays: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is a portrait from the studio of Allan Ramsay, painted in oil on canvas between 1761 and 1762. In front of us we see Queen Charlotte, only seventeen when she entered Britain, wearing the gold‑and‑ermine coronation robes that match her husband’s. Her hair falls loosely over a simple tiara, and a subtle smile greets the viewer. Ramsay layers bright gilding on the cloak, and careful brushwork defines the sheen of pearls. The canvas is almost 150 centimetres long, giving the figure ample space.
Charlotte met George III on their wedding day; three weeks later they were crowned in those same garments. In the painting she stands poised, as if inviting us into her courtly world. Ramsay’s composition shows a young queen who was devoted to husband, father of fifteen children and patron of arts. This work helped introduce Britain’s new royalty to colonial audiences.
See it in person
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
