Thomas Lawrence initially fashioned this image of a dashing George IV while the monarch was still Prince Regent. This idealized impression of George IV became very popular, with dozens of copies being created by Lawrence and his studio and acquired widely by supporters of the King. In lifestyle and taste, the Prince Regent set the tone for the many followers attracted to his court. His patronage and support of artists, designers and architects, such as John Nash, directly affected what became known as the ‘Regency Style’. This promoted a simple elegance based on Neoclassical principals but also often sported an Orientalist flair.