Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Inscriptionback to top

Signed and dated (bottom left): Fr Winterhalter/1867

This portraitback to top

This is a full-size replica of Winterhalter's last portrait of Prince Albert, painted in 1859, and now in the Royal Collection; the latter was exhibited VE, 1892 (57), reproduced Marquis of Lorne, VRI: Her Life and Empire (1901), p 121, engraved by S. Bellin and lithographed by J. Vinter (examples in NPG). The Prince Consort is shown in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade, with the star and ribbon of the Garter; behind him are the robes of the Bath, and on the table the chain and star of the same order, with a field-marshal's baton.
Queen Victoria decided to commission the NPG replica after discreet enquiries from the NPG trustees, who were anxious to represent Prince Albert in the collection. In a letter of 6 July 1866, Queen Victoria's private secretary wrote (NPG archives): 'I have received the Queen's Commands to say that Mr Winterhalter has consented to produce a Replica of his last portrait of His Royal Highness'. He wrote again on 3 April 1867, forwarding the completed replica, 'and I am to signify that Her Majesty has great pleasure in presenting the Institution with a likeness, the accuracy and execution of which have given the Queen much satisfaction.'

Physical descriptionback to top

Pale blue(?) eyes, brown hair and whiskers. Dressed in a dark green uniform, with black sword belt, silver decorations, and blue sash. Scarlet and white robes behind. Boule table at right with books and papers. Gilded stool at left with green covering, and a helmet on top. Greenish landscape, blue sky beyond. Floor brownish; background colour greenish-grey.

Provenanceback to top

Commissioned by Queen Victoria, and presented by her, 1867.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

View all known portraits for Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha