George Augustus Frederick, Prince of Wales (1762–1830), afterwards George IV of England (1820–1830) 19th century

T. R. Poole created this relief sculpture of George Augustus Frederick, Prince of Wales, sometime around the late 18th or early 19th century. The artwork uses a combination of materials to create a striking contrast. Encased within a dark wooden circular frame, we see a pale, almost ghostly, figure of the Prince set against a textured blue backdrop. This circular composition, with its clear boundaries, frames the Prince’s bust in profile. The pale relief contrasts sharply with the deep blue background. The modelling of the Prince’s features and clothing gives it a tactile quality. The choice of setting, materials, and colors invite us to consider semiotic systems of signs of wealth and royalty such as the crown on top of the frame. Consider how Poole has used the relief to explore the boundaries between sculpture and painting, flatness and depth. This constant play with form and material invites ongoing re-interpretations of its meaning.