Painting, Portrait of George II (1683-1760)
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Relatively little is known about John Shackleton, which is odd in view of his service as "Principal Painter in Ordinary" to Kings George II and George III (though, in truth, the continuation of his appointment under the latter resulted from a misunderstanding). Shackleton was an accomplished and even, on occasion, an insightful artist, but he seems to have suffered increasing inhibitions as the rank of his subjects rose. Consequently, his official portraits of George II and of other members of the nobility tend to exhibit a stiff formality largely missing from his likenesses of lesser lights.
