Portrait of Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1763-1827), wearing Field Marshal's scarlet uniform, white silk lined black velvet mantle, collar and breast star of the Order of the Garter and collar of the Order of the Bath

This impressively large enamel, housed in the original presentation frame, is one of several derivations by Bone after Sir Thomas Lawrence's full-length portrait in the Waterloo Chamber in Windsor Castle.
Bone's first version (of rectangular format) was enamelled for Princess Sophia in 1821. This was exhibited at the Royal Academy, London in 1822 and is possibly the same enamel, dated October 1821, sold at Christie's, 28 November 1978 (lot 58). Bone's squared-up drawing for this example is in the National Portrait Gallery Library, London and is inscribed '...for H.R.H. the Princess Sophia - April 1821'.
The current work was executed the month after Frederick’s death, likely from cardio-vascular disease, at the home of the Duke of Rutland in January 1827. A small head and shoulders example dated February 1827 is in the Royal Collection ([RCIN 421865], which was possibly acquired from the Duke of York’s own collection.
Frederick was the second son of King George III and Queen Charlotte. In 1784, he was created Duke of York and Albany and Earl of Ulster. He married, in 1791, Fredericka Charlotte (Hohenzollern), Princess Royal of Prussia; their marriage was childless. He was Colonel of several regiments and was created Field Marshal (1795) and Commander in Chief (1795-1809) and (1811-27). Frederick was the "The Grand Old Duke of York", celebrated in the nursery rhyme for marching his men up to the top of the hill and marching them down, a commentary on his unsuccessful Flanders campaign of 1793-99.