The painting was commissioned by William Hugh Spottiswoode for the NPG in 1912.[2] The aim was to produce a painting that would mimic the 1846 portrait of Queen Victoria and her family by Franz Xaver Winterhalter.[3] Sittings at Buckingham Palace were granted in early 1913, with King George V and Queen Mary sitting five and four times for the artist, respectively.[3] They were both involved in the process leading up to the painting's final version and applied blue paint to a Garter riband during one of their visits to the artist's studio.[3] In addition to the approved sketch, several other large-scale and group studies were produced, which initially had the King placing his right hand on a table but it the idea was dispensed with for the final version.[3] The first group study was then given by the artist to the Queen and is in the Royal Collection.[3]
The painting is an oil-on-canvas painting that depicts the British monarch King George V with his consort Queen Mary and two of their six children, Edward, Prince of Wales and Princess Mary, taking afternoon tea in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.[2] The King and Queen's second son Prince Albert was not featured as was pursuing his military training at sea.[3] The King is depicted isolated standing in his military uniform, which put emphasis on duty and service to the nation.[2] Unveiled months before the outbreak of the First World War, it was first displayed at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1913.[2] It was noted for its "romantic impressionism" but also the lack of "intimacy and the spontaneity of young children".[2][3]
