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Print

ca. 1840-1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This is a music sheet cover with a portrait of the young Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, printed by colour lithography.

Historical Association
The popularity of the young Queen Victoria coincided with a period when large numbers of illustrated music sheets were being published. There were therefore many with images of the Queen and, after her marriage in 1840, of Prince Albert, either as portraits or at particular events.

People
John Brandard was one of the leading artists illustrating music sheet covers during this early period of colour lithography. Brandard was renowned for his great technical skill and ability to convey delicate colours, in particular in his portraiture. He was also remarkably prolific.

Ownership & Use
The popularity of sheet music was partly due to the increase in domestic ownership of pianos, particularly after the introduction of upright pianos in about 1827. 'Pianomania' apparently began to spread among the middle-income levels of society during the 1840s, providing a market for the relatively expensive sheet music.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph, ink on paper
Brief description
Page of a printed music sheet, featuring chromo-lithograph of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's, published by Jullien, designed by J. Brandard; London, ca. 1840-1850.
Physical description
Front page of a printed music sheet, featuring an image of a young Queen Victoria and Prince Albert dancing surrounded by a gold border of a repeated pattern of stylized floral (including fleur-de-lys?) and circle motifs. The Queen is wearing a pale pink dress and blue sash fastened with a brooch. The Prince is wearing military red coat with gold trimmings and medals, gols tassled sash around his waist, white breeches and a knee garter.
Dimensions
  • Unmounted height: 34.6cm
  • Width: 24cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • J. Brandard (Signed on stone, lower right)
  • Jullien (Signed on stone, lower right, overwriting J. Brandard)
  • LONDON, PUBLISHED BY JULLIEN, 3 MADDOX ST. NEW BOND STREET / THIS WORK IS COPERIGHT. (Across bottom)
  • JULLIEN'S CELEBRATED POLKAS / No. 9. (Across top)
  • THE QUEEN & PRINCE ALBERT'S POLKA, / AS PERFORMED FOR THE FIRST TIME BEFORE / HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY, / & HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT, / ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR VISIT TO / HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM, / AT STOWE &C. &C. &C. (Lower part)
  • ENT.STA.HALL (Lower left)
  • M + N Hanhart chromo lith. impr. (Lower left)
Gallery label
(2010)
British Galleries:
The popularity of the young Queen was apparent in the many music sheets bearing her portrait that were published in the 1840s. Music sheets were amongst the earliest printed media to exploit the technique of colour lithography.
Credit line
Given by H.C. Andrews
Production
Publisher located at 3 Maddox Street
Subjects depicted
Summary
Object Type
This is a music sheet cover with a portrait of the young Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, printed by colour lithography.

Historical Association
The popularity of the young Queen Victoria coincided with a period when large numbers of illustrated music sheets were being published. There were therefore many with images of the Queen and, after her marriage in 1840, of Prince Albert, either as portraits or at particular events.

People
John Brandard was one of the leading artists illustrating music sheet covers during this early period of colour lithography. Brandard was renowned for his great technical skill and ability to convey delicate colours, in particular in his portraiture. He was also remarkably prolific.

Ownership & Use
The popularity of sheet music was partly due to the increase in domestic ownership of pianos, particularly after the introduction of upright pianos in about 1827. 'Pianomania' apparently began to spread among the middle-income levels of society during the 1840s, providing a market for the relatively expensive sheet music.
Collection
Accession number
E.2645-1914

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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