St James's Park and the Mall

attributed to Joseph Nickolls
ca. 1745

Royal Collection Trust RCIN 405954

Whitehall Palace shows in the background, as is Westminster Abbey with Hawksmoor’s façade towers, which were completed in 1745. The Royal Collection Trust notes: "Three different regiments are represented: two soldiers from a ‘Grenadier Company’ of a Guards or Line regiment with their high mitres chat in the centre background; two Hungarian Officers, the one in scarlet probably a Nádasdy Hussar, appear at the lower right — Austria was Britain’s ally during the war of the Austrian Succession (1740-48); two Highland Officers in government tartan stride across the centre just in front of a foot-soldier. ... Immediately behind the Scottish soldiers is a sailor, talking to a friend while a well-dressed black woman walks in front. Two priests in black walk in the centre right, while further to the right an exotic-looking robed and bearded middle-eastern elder instructs a younger man. Otherwise, the Mall itself is given over to the beau monde, dressed in the height of fashion and saluting each other with elaborate grace and courtesy."

In the centre of the composition is Frederick, Prince of Wales, speaking to a fellow Garter Knight. At this time he lived at Carlton House nearby (facing this scene).