Victoria, Duchess of Kent (1786-1861) 1837-39
Watercolour on ivory laid on card | 21.8 x 17.0 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external) | RCIN 421461
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The Duchess of Kent is depicted wearing a black velvet evening dress with the amethyst brooch from the Kent demi-parure at her breast by the leading Victorian miniature painter, William Ross. The Duchess is first known to have sat for William Ross in 1837. On 24 December 1837 Queen Victoria recorded that she had received a gift from her mother: it was 'her picture (in a bracelet), painted by Ross, and excessively like' (RA QVJ: 24 December 1837). This large miniature must date from between this time and 1840 when an oil copy of it by Herbert Luther Smith was given by the Duchess to the Queen. It may have been painted for the purpose of publication by Colnaghi & Puckle rather than as a royal commission, which would explain why it remained in the artist's possession until his death. Queen Victoria would have seen it when she and the Prince Consort visited the commemorative exhibition of Ross's work at the Society of Arts in June 1860. It had been lent to the exhibition by Ross's executors and was subsequently sold at Ross's studio sale at Christie's, London, 22 June 1860 (lot 118) to 'Mr. Ross'. Queen Victoria made her purchase, after some discussion of a fair price, from Mrs A.M. Ross for £22 1s (21 guineas). A miniature copy on ivory by Guglielmo Faija is in the Royal Collection (421467).
Provenance
In the possession of the artist at his death; Ross sale, Christie’s, London, 22 June 1860 (lot 118); purchased by Mr Ross; thence to Mrs A.M. Ross, 2 Ladbroke Gardens, Kensington; purchased from Mrs Ross by Queen Victoria in 1861
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Medium and techniques
Watercolour on ivory laid on card
Measurements
21.8 x 17.0 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external)
26.8 x 21.3 cm (frame, external)
17.4 x 12.7 cm (sight)
Other number(s)