Object of the Day, Museum Edition: Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, with his Family, 1884

Another dreadful bore awaits me. The Queen has sent over her new court painter, Herr Sohn, who must produce a family group of the Duke, myself, and our two eldest children! This is an aggravation of sorrow that fell upon me like a shell. I am simply furious: besides hating the long sittings, I dislike still more having my pig-like face reproduced on canvas and handed over to posterity. When I was a nice, lively, thin and fresh young lady, I did not mind it so much, but now! His first sketch of me is monstrous as he was provided by the Queen with the most atrocious photographs that were ever made of me. I was so horrified that I could not conceal it and the poor man does not quite know what he is to think about the whole business.

So wrote the Duchess of Edinburgh in an 1884 letter.  The result of the sitting of which she complained so bitterly is below, a portrait which is the work of Carl Rudolph Sohn (1845-1908), the son of Carl Ferdinand Sohn (1805-1867).  Queen Victoria was familiar with the work of both father and son Sohn and had dispatched the younger Sohn to paint the portrait of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (1844-1900) and his family.

The Family of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
Carl Sohn, 1884
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Via The Royal Collection Trust
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Alfred was Queen Victoria’s and Prince Albert's fourth child. His Majesty is depicted here with his wife, the admittedly porcine Duchess Marie, and their two children, who were also called Alfred and Marie. The Duke is in the morning dress uniform of a Vice-Admiral and wearing the badges of St Patrick, St Michael and St George, the Star of India and St Vladimir of Russia. Well, aren't we fancy?

As evidenced by the above quote, the Duchess wasn't too thrilled about having her portrait painted.  She was rather sensitive about her looks after giving birth to two sturdy Royal children, it seems.  That, and her twisted tail.

Antique Image of the Day: Princess Alice of Albany, 1886

Princess Alice of Albany
George Piner Cartland
April, 1886
A gift to Queen Victoria
The Royal Collection

The eldest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Albany, Princess Alice married Prince Alexander of Teck (brother of Mary of Teck, Queen Mary, the wife of King George V) in 1904. Prince Alexander would become Earl of Althone thereby making his wife Princess Alice, Countess of Althone—a title which she maintained until her death in 1981.


Here, we see Princess Alice as a young girl of three in this photograph taken in April of 1886. The photograph was presented as a gift to Queen Victoria who had a special fondness for the girl. The little princess poses in her wee coat, holding an umbrella. She is joined by her favorite companion, a little terrier.

Until her death, she was the only remaining grandchild of Queen Victoria, having lived through six reigns: Victoria (her grandmother), Edward VII (her uncle), George V (her cousin and brother-in-law), Edward VIII (her nephew), George VI (her nephew) and Elizabeth II (her grand-niece).

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: “A Rough Dog,” by George Stubbs, 1790

A Rough Dog
George Stubbs, 1790
The Royal Collection

The Royal Family, historically, has always had great affection for their pets. King George IV was no exception. Though George also enjoyed the company of people (women, mostly), he also cherished his animal companions.


In 1790, George Stubbs was commissioned to paint this portrait of a friendly, but somewhat messy dog for King George IV. Stubbs was known primarily as a painter of horses, but showed a remarkable versatility with this painting which is not only a great portrait of the dog, but also a rather impressive landscape.

Unfolding Pictures: The Marriage Fan, 1760

The Marriage Fan
French, 1760
Presented to Queen Elizabeth II, 1947
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

This antique French fan with pierced mother-of-pearl sticks and guards was a gift to Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) on the day of her 1947 wedding to Prince Philip. Traditionally, those firms employed by the Royal Family make gifts of objects which represent their trade on the occasion of weddings. The Royal fan-makers of Duvelleroy presented this fan to the Queen to add to her collection of similar antique fans (most of which had been assembled by her grandmother Queen Mary).


The fan’s painted leaf depicts a scene of an Eighteenth Century French wedding. As was the tradition of the time, the wedding guests are shown wearing red flowers and crimson party favors—typical symbols of marriage.