Queen Victoria
- Overview
- Extended Catalogue Entry
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Queen Victoria
by George Housman Thomas
pencil and watercolour, circa 1863
12 3/8 in. x 7 7/8 in. (314 mm x 200 mm)
Purchased, 1938
Primary Collection
NPG 2954
Sitterback to top
- Queen Victoria (1819-1901), Reigned 1837-1901. Sitter associated with 548 portraits, Artist or producer associated with 5 portraits.
Artistback to top
- George Housman Thomas (1824-1868), Artist. Artist or producer associated with 2 portraits.
This portraitback to top
This is a study for the painting entitled The Marriage of the Prince of Wales, 1863 in the Royal Collection, which depicts the wedding of Victoria’s eldest son, the future King Edward VII (privately known as Bertie) and Princess Alexandra of Denmark, which took place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. Victoria, wearing black, was in deep mourning for her husband Prince Albert who had died in 1861. She is depicted watching the ceremony from the privacy of the Edward IV Chantry immediately above the high altar.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Smartify image discovery app
- Ormond, Richard, Early Victorian Portraits, 1973, p. 477
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 634
Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top
- Celebrating Queen Victoria: 200 Years (5 March 2019 - 1 September 2019)
Events of 1863back to top
Current affairs
The opening of the world's first underground railway, with the Metropolitan Railway running trains between Bishop's Street, Padington and Farringdon. Work had begun in 1860, using the 'cut-and-cover' method of construction. The Metropolitan line inspired the construction of other underground railways - the Parisian 'Metro' took its name from the line.The Football Association is founded.
Art and science
Julia Margaret Cameron takes up photography, taking portraits of some of the most celebrated figures of the day, with her romantic style capturing the sense of nostalgia and longing that characterised the age.Kingsley's Water Babies; A Fairy Tale for Children is published, the hugely popular tale of drowned chimney sweep Tom's moral education in the river world of the water babies. It inspired the 1978 film starring James Mason.
International
At an international conference, the Geneva Public Welfare Society calls on the sixteen nations present to form voluntary units to help the wartime wounded. The society, comprised of five Swiss citizens and led by Henri Dunant, who had been deeply affected by the casualties he had witnessed at the Battle of Solferino, became the National Red Cross Societies, adopting the emblem of a red cross on white background.Comments back to top
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