Antique Image of the Day: "Prince Arthur in Fancy Costume," 1870

Prince Arthur in Fancy Dress
William Notman, 1870
The Royal Collection

The son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Arthur grew to be a spirited lad and a young man who enjoyed a good party. When stationed in Canada, at the age of 20, Prince Arthur attended many a soiree, often in fancy dress.  For this particular occasion, he seems to have styled himself as King Charles I—a curious choice, indeed.  

However, doesn’t he look quite pleased with himself in this photo taken by William Notman in January of 1870?  One wonders what was going through his mind at that moment.

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Antique Image of the Day: "Prince Arthur in Fancy Costume," 1870

Prince Arthur in Fancy Dress
William Notman, 1870
The Royal Collection

The son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Arthur grew to be a spirited lad and a young man who enjoyed a good party. When stationed in Canada, at the age of 20, Prince Arthur attended many a soiree, often in fancy dress.  For this particular occasion, he seems to have styled himself as King Charles I—a curious choice, indeed.  However, doesn’t he look quite pleased with himself in this photo taken by William Notman in January of 1870?  One wonders what was going through his mind at that moment.

Object of the Day: An Antique Snow Scene

As the snow falls here in North Texas (at least temporarily), I thought I’d present this antique painting. Though unsigned, the canvas is dated 1846. I know it comes from Canada and was purchased with a lot of antiques several years ago.


It’s an unusual painting inasmuch as landscape artists usually depict scenes of majestic greenery. Here, we have a rather desolate scene. The bare tree and the rocks are an interesting counterpoint to the cool grays and whites of the snow and ice.

For many of us, this is what we’re seeing when we look out of our windows. A painting such as this reminds us that beneath that blanket of coldness, lies something wonderful and alive. It’s a rather fitting metaphor for life.

Antique Image of the Day: "Prince Arthur in Fancy Costume," 1870

Prince Arthur in Fancy Dress
William Notman, 1870
The Royal Collection

The son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Arthur grew to be a spirited lad and a young man who enjoyed a good party.  When stationed in Canada, at the age of 20, Prince Arthur attended many a soiree, often in fancy dress.  For this particular occasion, he seems to have styled himself as King Charles I—a curious choice, indeed.  However, doesn’t he look quite pleased with himself in this photo taken by William Notman in January of 1870?  One wonders what was going through his mind at that moment.

Object of the Day: A Canadian Still Life

A wooden bowl tilts to spill a cascade of ripe bananas and peaches. A lone unripe peach has rolled off on its own, providing a shocking counterpoint of fresh green against the golden colors of its surroundings.


This still life painting signed by C. Vernon comes from Canada and dates to approximately 1880. It was part of the collection of a Canadian art aficionado which somehow made its way to Texas in early 2000.

Borrowing the ideals of Dutch and Flemish still life painters, the artist has arranged this assortment of slightly over-ripe fruit as a means of demonstrating the fleeting nature of time. The presence of the unripe peach—on its own—reminds us that we all have our own spot in the journey of life.