1841 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Born in England, made prints in England
Printmaking activity: 1840 –1848
Queen Victoria was introduced to etching by her husband, Prince Albert, shortly after their marriage in 1840. The couple were taught by professional artists, including Sir George Hayter, and later, Edwin Landseer. These professionals were responsible for the more complicated parts of the printmaking process, such as biting the copper plates in acid. Though Victoria found etching to be a ‘fascinating but difficult process’, she produced 62 prints, compared to Albert’s 25. The couple also enjoyed collaborating on plates together and set up a printing press at Buckingham Palace.
These early prints reveal how etching was an ideal technique for curious amateurs who lacked formal training – they could ‘draw’ on the copper plate as they would a piece of paper. They also show how Queen Victoria, like many amateur women printmakers, turned to everyday domestic scenes for artistic inspiration. Her etchings often feature her beloved children and pets, as seen here.
Printmaking activity: 1840 –1848
Queen Victoria was introduced to etching by her husband, Prince Albert, shortly after their marriage in 1840. The couple were taught by professional artists, including Sir George Hayter, and later, Edwin Landseer. These professionals were responsible for the more complicated parts of the printmaking process, such as biting the copper plates in acid. Though Victoria found etching to be a ‘fascinating but difficult process’, she produced 62 prints, compared to Albert’s 25. The couple also enjoyed collaborating on plates together and set up a printing press at Buckingham Palace.
These early prints reveal how etching was an ideal technique for curious amateurs who lacked formal training – they could ‘draw’ on the copper plate as they would a piece of paper. They also show how Queen Victoria, like many amateur women printmakers, turned to everyday domestic scenes for artistic inspiration. Her etchings often feature her beloved children and pets, as seen here.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Etching on paper |
| Brief description | Print by H.M. Queen Victoria, depicting her daughter Victoria as a baby in the arms of a nurse, etching, Britain, 1841. |
| Physical description | An etching depicting Victoria, Princess Royal, Empress Frederick of Germany, as a baby in the arms of a nurse. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr P. G. Trendell |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Born in England, made prints in England Printmaking activity: 1840 –1848 Queen Victoria was introduced to etching by her husband, Prince Albert, shortly after their marriage in 1840. The couple were taught by professional artists, including Sir George Hayter, and later, Edwin Landseer. These professionals were responsible for the more complicated parts of the printmaking process, such as biting the copper plates in acid. Though Victoria found etching to be a ‘fascinating but difficult process’, she produced 62 prints, compared to Albert’s 25. The couple also enjoyed collaborating on plates together and set up a printing press at Buckingham Palace. These early prints reveal how etching was an ideal technique for curious amateurs who lacked formal training – they could ‘draw’ on the copper plate as they would a piece of paper. They also show how Queen Victoria, like many amateur women printmakers, turned to everyday domestic scenes for artistic inspiration. Her etchings often feature her beloved children and pets, as seen here. |
| Bibliographic reference | Victoria & Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1932. London: HMSO, 1933. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.2175-1932 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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