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.

Antique Image of the Day: A Small Chapel in Tintern Abbey, Roger Fenton, 1854

 

A Small Chapel in Tintern Abbey, 1854
Roger Fenton
The Royal Collection



This photo by Roger Fenton(1819-1869) was taken at the ruins of Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire, South Wales in 1854.  The image was acquired by Prince Albert after it was exhibited at the Photographic Society.  Prince Albert and Queen Victoria were loyal patrons of the art of photography and, during their marriage, amassed an impressive collection of images.  Prince Albert was especially fond of Fenton’s work and the painterly way he approached his compositions.  Fenton’s flare for dramatic staging can be seen in this image which is at once both bucolic and slightly startling.  The juxtaposition of the young woman and her decaying surroundings makes an interesting statement. Prince Albert was known to commission Roger Fenton for special photographs which still remain in the Royal Collection.  Victoria continued collecting after her husband’s death.  By the time of her passing, she had collecting over 20,000 original photographs. 

Antique Image of the Day: A Small Chapel in Tintern Abbey, Roger Fenton, 1854



A Small Chapel in Tintern Abbey, 1854
Roger Fenton
The Royal Collection



This photo by Roger Fenton(1819-1869) was taken at the ruins of Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire, South Wales in 1854.  The image was acquired by Prince Albert after it was exhibited at the Photographic Society.  Prince Albert and Queen Victoria were loyal patrons of the art of photography and, during their marriage, amassed an impressive collection of images.  Prince Albert was especially fond of Fenton’s work and the painterly way he approached his compositions.  Fenton’s flare for dramatic staging can be seen in this image which is at once both bucolic and slightly startling.  The juxtaposition of the young woman and her decaying surroundings makes an interesting statement.  Prince Albert was known to commission Roger Fenton for special photographs which still remain in the Royal Collection.  Victoria continued collecting after her husband’s death.  By the time of her passing, she had collecting over 20,000 original photographs. 

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.

Recommended Reading: Crown and Camera: The Royal Family and Photography

HRH, Prince Albert

Prince Albert, in 1842, earned the distinction of being the first member of the British Royal Family to be photographed. Crown and Camera: The Royal Family and Photography chronicles the photographs of the royals from that very first image of Queen Victoria’s beloved husband all the way to 1910. Filled with rare and beautiful images, this book compiled by Frances Dimond and Roger Tyler, actually served as the catalog to the exhibition of Royal Photography in The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace. Many of the images are surprisingly personal and casual. It’s a rare glimpse into the life of the Royal Family during Queen Victoria’s reign, documenting the triumphs and the tragedies of one of the most influential periods of history.