Miniature A.E. Chalon Watercolour of Queen Victoria as Princess Victoria c1823
The inscription to the reverse of this portrait provides the age of the future Queen of England to be around 3 years old, circa 1823 when she was Princess Victoria. It is a charming portrait of a relaxed princess fabricating a daisy chain, wearing a daisy headdress and bracelet. The princess was rarely allowed outside and was brought up in an extremely rigid, strict regime, known as 'The Kensington System' by her widowed mother, The Duchess of Kent. All the way up until the princess turned 18, she was under constant supervision, one of her first acts as queen was to demand an hour alone.
Alfred Edward Chalon was born in Geneva but had moved to England as a child, when his father became a professor at the London Military College, Sandhurst. What is particularly special about this portrait of a Princess, is that it was probably commissioned by the future Queens mother, The Duchess of Kent. Years later, the now Queen would appoint Chalon as her official portrait painter. Alfred was the first portrait painter to paint Queen Victoria, on her accession to the throne. Alfred's brother, John James Chalon was also a painter and in 1908 they established the Society for the study of Epic and Pastoral Design together, also known as 'The bread and cheese society'.
This rare, small watercolour miniature was authenticated by Adam Galleries of Melbourne in 1978. At this time it was valued at $245 Australian Dollars. This original transcript will accompany the portrait and forms part of the history of the watercolour. The portrait is still protected behind the glass and thick cardboard with Alfred Chalon's monogram stamp visible to the bottom right corner. This is a quality portrait, deemed fit for a queen and ready to add to your collection. This is not just a fabulous portrait but also a piece of history, that will only become more rare over time.
Dimensions are as follows:
Painting medium - watercolour
Artist - Alfred Edward Chalon
Subject - Princess Victoria, future Queen Victoria
Height 118 mm x width 94 mm x thickness 5.3 mm
