Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

1 portrait

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

after Unknown artist
coloured lithograph, mid 19th century
9 7/8 in. x 6 7/8 in. (251 mm x 175 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D8138

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Unknown artist, Artist. Artist or producer associated with 6578 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This work celebrates Prince Albert's impressive appearance as Edward III at the costume ball of 1842. Despite the practical reasons given for holding such events, the number of images that exist where the royal couple present themselves in historical guises suggests a desire to experiment with their royal identity. Edwin Landseer was subsequently commissioned to paint a double portrait of them in costume, titled Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at the Bal Costumé of 12 May 1842 (1846). The finished oil painting affirmed their interest in medievalism, while indicating continuity with royal exemplars of the past.

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Events of 1840back to top

Current affairs

Victoria marries her cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; he is given the title of Prince Consort.
The Penny Black stamp is introduced by Rowland Hill; the first pre-paid, self-adhesive stamp, it marks the start of the modern postal system.
The start of the Irish potato famine, which by the time of its peak in 1851, had caused the deaths of one million, and contributed to the sharp rise of emigration from Ireland to England and America.

Art and science

Beau Brummel, the fashion leader responsible for sparking the culture of 'Dandyism', dies of syphilis.
The first stone is laid on the new Houses of Parliament, based on the gothic designs by the architects Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin. The old buildings had burned down in 1834, following a blaze caused by burning wooden tallies used by the Exchequer to calculate tax.

International

The Afghans surrender to Britain during the Afghan-British war (1839-42). The war was sparked by British fear over Russian influence in Afghanistan, with the British East India Company resolving to depose the Afghan leader, Dost Muhammad, who was insistent on Afghan independence, and restore the former leader Shoja Shah.
The Maoris yield sovereignty of New Zealand under the Treaty of Waitangi.

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