Queen Victoria

Sitterback to top

• Queen Victoria (1819-1901), Reigned 1837-1901. Sitter associated with 444 portraits, Artist associated with 5 portraits.

Artistsback to top

• James Bromley (1800-1838), Mezzotint engraver. Artist associated with 11 portraits.
• Sir George Hayter (1792-1871), Portrait and history painter; son of Charles Hayter. Artist associated with 198 portraits, Sitter associated with 16 portraits.

This portraitback to top

To emphasise Princess Victoria's qualities as an exemplar of young womanhood, artists revived the idealised imagery generated to commemorate Princess Charlotte, customarily depicting her as the 'Rose of England'. Sir George Hayter's appealing portrait of Princess Victoria best illustrates this connection. Posed gracefully with her hair formally dressed in a fashion reminiscent of the style preferred by Charlotte, she picks up the rose by her side. The significance of this image of her early self was retrospectively confirmed, when, on the occasion of her Jubilee, it was reproduced as a newspaper supplement with the celebratory inscription 'Our future Queen'.

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Books and libraries
• Carpets and textiles
• Flowers and plants
• Gloves and gauntlets
• Jewellery
• Maps
• Pets and animals