The Royal Family on the terrace at Osborne House thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level F , Case X, Shelf 39

The Royal Family on the terrace at Osborne House

Photograph
1857 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This photograph has been re-touched to improve its appearance and flatter the sitters. Brush-work is evident in parts of the image.

Ownership & Use
This photograph formed part of the 19th-century collection of Chauncy Hare Townshend. His photographs adorned the walls of his London home or were kept in portfolios and presses. He bequeathed many of the best items in his collection to the Museum in 1868.

People
Princess Beatrice, the youngest child of Queen Victoria and Albert, the Prince Consort, was born in April 1857. Soon after the birth, the Queen and her family went to stay at their retreat, Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of England. The family were photographed there in May by the photographer Caldesi who was summoned from London.

Materials & Making
Images of the royal family were often retouched by painting directly on to a photographic print. The effect was to enhance tones or colours and to flatter the sitters. The resulting hybrid painted photograph was often re-photographed for wide and popular distribution.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Royal Family on the terrace at Osborne House
Materials and techniques
Albumen print from wet collodion on glass negative; an almost contemporary copy of an overpainted or retouched original
Brief description
19thC; Caldesi & Montecchi, Queen Victoria & family, 1857
Physical description
The royal family are seen on the terrace of their fashionable 'marine' residence at Osborne on the Isle of Wight. Technically the photograph is quite mysterious, for it is heavily overpainted. It is likely that the original photograph was overpainted and then a copy photograph was produced
Gallery label
British Galleries: The Royal Family provided an ideal model of family life. Photography allowed them to be portrayed in more informal settings and these images became widely popular. This photograph was taken at Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight, soon after the birth of Princess Beatrice, the last child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Townshend Bequest
Subjects depicted
Summary
Object Type
This photograph has been re-touched to improve its appearance and flatter the sitters. Brush-work is evident in parts of the image.

Ownership & Use
This photograph formed part of the 19th-century collection of Chauncy Hare Townshend. His photographs adorned the walls of his London home or were kept in portfolios and presses. He bequeathed many of the best items in his collection to the Museum in 1868.

People
Princess Beatrice, the youngest child of Queen Victoria and Albert, the Prince Consort, was born in April 1857. Soon after the birth, the Queen and her family went to stay at their retreat, Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of England. The family were photographed there in May by the photographer Caldesi who was summoned from London.

Materials & Making
Images of the royal family were often retouched by painting directly on to a photographic print. The effect was to enhance tones or colours and to flatter the sitters. The resulting hybrid painted photograph was often re-photographed for wide and popular distribution.
Collection
Accession number
68021

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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