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| Victoria, Princess Royal, with Eos August, 1841 Sir Edwin Landseer Commissioned by Queen Victoria on the event of Prince Albert's Birthday The Royal Collection |
On Wednesday, we examined a painting by Sir Edwin Landseer from 1841 which depicted Prince Albert’s favorite greyhound, Eos, in a very dignified pose. Here, we see another painting by Landseer from the same year. This time, Eos is peacefully curled up with Victoria, Princess Royal. Queen Victoria commissioned Landseer to paint this portrait of their eight-month old daughter with Prince Albert’s beloved Eos as a gift for the Prince’s birthday on August 26, 1841. This tender scene shows the child to be alert and bright, her foot resting on the nose of the patient, loyal hound.
Also included in the painting is a barbary dove—perched on the arm of the green silk bergère chair upon which the infant princess rests. This dove was a symbol of childhood innocence, but also represented the vast assemblage of birds which Queen Victoria and Prince Albert houses in the Royal Aviary in the Home Park of Windsor.
By all accounts, Prince Albert was thrilled with the portrait which was displayed near the painting of Eos protecting his master’s belongings.
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