Painting of the Day: Victoria, Duchess of Kent, 1839

Victoria Duchess of Kent
The Royal Collection

Sir William Charles Ross (1794-1860) rendered this delicate miniature of watercolor on ivory in 1839—two years after Queen Victoria ascended the throne. The sitter, of course, is Victoria, the Duchess of Kent—mother of Queen Victoria.

Queen Victoria had a rocky relationship with her overbearing mother, and was quite pleased to leave the Duchess behind at Kensington Palace when she was created Queen. Nevertheless, Queen Victoria commissioned several paintings of her mama. This is but one of several miniatures and full-size paintings of the Duchess which reside in the Royal Collection.