Pets of the Belle Epoque: Princess Mary Adelaide with “Nelson,” by Sir Edwin Landseer, 1839

Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge
with Nelson, a Newfoundland Dog
Sir Edwin Landseer, 1839
Presented to King George V, 1893
The Royal Collection

Technically, this painting fits better into the category of “Royal Pets.” Painted in 1839 by Sir Edwin Landseer, this portrait of Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge depicts the royal child with the favorite Newfoundland dog of her father Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge.

Princess Mary Adelaide (known in her adult life by the unflattering sobriquet of “Fat Mary”) was the granddaughter of King George III and the mother of Princess Mary of Teck who would later become the queen consort of George V. Therefore, she is the Great Grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II (Mary of Teck’s son, King George VI was Queen Elizabeth II’s father).

This painting was presented to King George V in 1893 on the occasion of his marriage to Mary of Teck. Mary very much liked this picture of her mother and kept it near. Of course, much of the beauty of the painting owes to its artist, Sir Edwin Landseer—long known as the foremost British painter of animals.

HRH Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, Duchess of Teck
in later life.