Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria

replica by Sir George Hayter
oil on canvas, 1863 (1838)
112 1/2 in. x 70 1/2 in. (2858 mm x 1790 mm)
Given by Queen Victoria, 1900
Primary Collection
NPG 1250

Sitter

Queen Victoria (1819-1901), Reigned 1837-1901. Sitter associated with 354 portraits, Artist associated with 5 portraits.

Artist

Sir George Hayter (1792-1871), Portrait and history painter; son of Charles Hayter. Artist associated with 176 portraits, Sitter in 15 portraits.

This Portrait

Queen Victoria came to the throne at the age of eighteen on the death of her uncle, William IV, in 1837 and was crowned queen on 28 June 1838. She wrote in her journal on the day of her coronation: 'I really cannot say how proud I feel to be the Queen of such a Nation', and some of this idealism is conveyed in Sir George Hayter's coronation portrait. Victoria described a small version of this portrait, which Hayter painted for her private apartments, as 'excessively like and beautifully painted'. This version was given to the National Portrait Gallery by Queen Victoria in 1900 and is an autograph replica of an original of 1838.

Linked Publications

Victorian Portraits Resource Pack, p. 8
Bayly, Christopher, The Raj: India and the British 1600-1947, 1990 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 19 October 1990 - 17 March 1991), p. 331
Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 70
Cooper, John, A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery, 2009, p. 37
Funnell, Peter, Victorian Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery collection, 1996, p. 8
Hart-Davis, Adam, Chain Reactions, 2000, p. 90
Ormond, Richard, Early Victorian Portraits, 1973, p. 474
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 633

Subjects & Themes

Crowns and tiaras
Family Crests and Coats of Arms