Portret van Willem IV Hendrik, koning van het Verenigd Koninkrijk, als prins en ridder van de Orde van de Distel 1780

This mezzotint pictures Willem IV Hendrik, King of the United Kingdom, as a prince and knight, and was created by Valentine Green in the late 18th century. The portrait reflects the political and social structures of its time. The setting, dress, and symbols all convey the subject's status, wealth, and lineage, which are all the things that defined the cultural elite. The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. Made in Britain, this work reflects the hierarchies of the British Aristocracy, as well as the function of portraiture to celebrate not only the individual, but the institution of monarchy and aristocracy more generally. The trappings of royalty are present, but so is the suggestion of worldly knowledge, as the young Willem rests his hand on a globe. Historians consult sources such as letters, diaries, and financial records to better understand the political and social context that shaped the creation and reception of this work, and in understanding the function of art in solidifying the status and power of the cultural elite.