Cotton
1817-1818 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This plate-printed cotton panel commemorates the death of Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only child and heir of King George IV, on 6 November 1817. The Princess died the day after giving birth to her first child, a still-born son. Mother and child were buried in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle which can be seen in the distance on the left hand side of the panel. The Princess's sudden death and its sad circumstances shocked the public and many souvenirs, made in a range of materials from paper and ceramics to textiles, were produced to commemorate her brief life. The crossed branches of weeping willow which surround the octagon framing the princess signify mourning.
Princess Charlotte favoured a simple, unostentatious style of dress and set an example to the court by patriotically wearing British-made textiles and clothing. Portraits and descriptions of her appearance often refer to her fondness for wearing a wreath of roses around her hair similar to the one depicted here.
Princess Charlotte favoured a simple, unostentatious style of dress and set an example to the court by patriotically wearing British-made textiles and clothing. Portraits and descriptions of her appearance often refer to her fondness for wearing a wreath of roses around her hair similar to the one depicted here.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Plate-printed cotton |
| Brief description | printed cotton, English, depicting Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales, commemorating her death, 1817-18 |
| Physical description | Portrait printed on cotton in sepia on cream ground. Princess Charlotte stands on a balcony, her back turned to a view of Windsor Castle. She wears roses in her hair and a dark head-band, a striped dress with short puff sleeves, high waist and deep ruched skirt. A long shawl with borders of flowers in roundels in squares is draped over one shoulder. The inscriptionis printed beneath the octagonal shape of the picture, and the whole is framed in two branches of willow with rays as of a setting sun where they meet at the top. The size and subject of this printed cotton suggest that it was intended to be a picture, not a handkerchief. The etching was done after the painting by Henry Meyer dated 1816, now in the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Her Royal Highness
PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES
And of SAXE COBURG Saalfeld
Born 7th January 1796 Died 6th November 1817'
Born 7th. Jan.y 1796 Died 6th. Nov.r 1817 (Inscription on handkerchief beneath portrait) |
| Credit line | Given by Cora Ginsburg |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This plate-printed cotton panel commemorates the death of Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only child and heir of King George IV, on 6 November 1817. The Princess died the day after giving birth to her first child, a still-born son. Mother and child were buried in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle which can be seen in the distance on the left hand side of the panel. The Princess's sudden death and its sad circumstances shocked the public and many souvenirs, made in a range of materials from paper and ceramics to textiles, were produced to commemorate her brief life. The crossed branches of weeping willow which surround the octagon framing the princess signify mourning. Princess Charlotte favoured a simple, unostentatious style of dress and set an example to the court by patriotically wearing British-made textiles and clothing. Portraits and descriptions of her appearance often refer to her fondness for wearing a wreath of roses around her hair similar to the one depicted here. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.303-1975 |
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| Record created | December 14, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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