Oil on canvas, oval 74cm by 61cm. A pair to PIC445.
The portrait has always been thought to be that of Philip of Anjou, the second son of Louis XV of France.
This attribution was the result of correspondence in 1949 between Myra, 5th Marchioness of Exeter and Sir Henry Hake, then Director of the National Portrait Gallery, (MY/P/95).
However, Philip was only just over two and a half year’s of age at the time of his death in 1733 and this prince appears to be somewhat older.
