Photograph
02/06/1953 (photographed)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Colour photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day, 2nd June 1953. Seated upon a throne, the new Queen is crowned and holds the orb and sceptre. She is dressed in an elaborately embroidered gown and wears a long dark cloak. The cloak, like the gown, is embroidered with golden threads. It is trimmed with a thick white and black fur and fastened with broad, golden braids and knots. Her jewels, crown and clothing glisten. The scene is framed by a heavy draped curtain, which is tied back to reveal a painted backdrop depicting the grand latticed naves of Westminster Abbey (where the Coronation ceremony had taken place shortly before this sitting).
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Object details
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Object type | |
Materials and techniques | photography |
Brief description | Royal Portrait by Cecil Beaton (1904-1980). Photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II on Coronation Day, Buckingham Palace, 1953. |
Physical description | Colour photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day, 2nd June 1953. Seated upon a throne, the new Queen is crowned and holds the orb and sceptre. She is dressed in an elaborately embroidered gown and wears a long dark cloak. The cloak, like the gown, is embroidered with golden threads. It is trimmed with a thick white and black fur and fastened with broad, golden braids and knots. Her jewels, crown and clothing glisten. The scene is framed by a heavy draped curtain, which is tied back to reveal a painted backdrop depicting the grand latticed naves of Westminster Abbey (where the Coronation ceremony had taken place shortly before this sitting). |
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Gallery label | Queen Elizabeth II
2 June 1953
In this glittering portrait the Queen wears the Imperial State Crown, re-made on several occasions since the 17th century. In 1937, the Crown was remounted by the royal jewellers Garrard for King George VI, and then further adjusted in 1953. The Queen holds the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross in her right hand, balanced by the Orb in her left. On her right hand she wears the Coronation Ring, a symbol that the Sovereign is ‘wedded’ to the state. On both wrists are the Armills, golden bracelets signifying sincerity and wisdom.
C-type print, printed 1987
V&A: Ph.311-1987
(2012) |
Credit line | Bequeathed to the Museum in 1987 by Eileen Hose, secretary to the photographer |
Production | Cecil Beaton photographed members of the royal family from 1930-1979. |
Subject depicted | |
Place depicted | |
Collection | |
Accession number | PH.311-1987 |
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Record created | June 8, 2009 |
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