| The Three Eldest Princesses | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Thomas Gainsborough |
| Year | 1784 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, portrait painting |
| Dimensions | 129.7 cm× 179.8 cm(51.1 in× 70.8 in) |
| Location | Royal Collection, London |
The Three Eldest Princesses is a 1784 portrait painting by the English artist Thomas Gainsborough. [1] A group portrait, it features the three eldest daughters of the British monarch George III and his wife Queen Charlotte. From left to right it features Charlotte, Princess Royal, Princess Sophia Augusta and Princess Elizabeth. The work was commissioned by their brother the future George IV, then Prince of Wales, for three hundred guineas. [2]
Gainsborough had enjoyed increasing patronage from the royal family since his move from the spa town of Bath. The painting was a catalyst for Gainsborough's dramatic withdrawal from the Royal Academy Exhibition of 1784 at Somerset House. Despite being a founder member of the Royal Academy, he had long had a uneasy relationship with the institution. When a dispute arouse over the hanging of the work, Gainsborough threatened to withdraw all the paintings he has submitted. The authorities called his bluff and all the works were removed just before the exhibition opened. Gains boycotted the Academy for the remainder of his career, choosing instead to exhibit his paintings at Schomberg House in Pall Mall. [3] The painting remains in the Royal Collection. [4]
