Prince Ernest (1818-1893) and Prince Albert (1819-1861) of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, 1829 Signed and dated 1841
Oil on canvas | 39.0 x 53.0 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external) | RCIN 408925
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Louise Leopoldine von Meyern Hohenberg (1815-65) was born in Coburg and remained in her hometown throughout most of her life. Her career spanned the sister arts of sculpture and painting. As a local artist, she executed several portraits of the family of Duke Ernst I of Saxe Coburg, including a notable group likeness of 1842. Her portrait of Princess Louise, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, mother of Ernst and Albert, is in the Royal Collection (RCIN 403688). An inscription on the reverse explains that this portrait was painted 'from memory' after a portrait of the two princes of 1829.
This life-size portrait depicts the heads and shoulders of Prince Albert (1819-61), seen in profile, and his elder brother Prince Ernst, later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1818-93), who gazes directly at the viewer. The white collars of the two young princes are shown in stark relief against the black background. There is little to distinguish the brothers physically.Provenance
Purchased by Queen Victoria in 1842; recorded hanging in the School Room at Osborne House, 1876
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Creator(s)
(framemaker)Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Oil on canvas
Measurements
39.0 x 53.0 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external)
78.0 x 81.1 x 9.5 cm (frame, excluding detachable parts)
94.2 x 81.1 x 14.1 cm (frame, external)
Category
Object type(s)