Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1819-1901)
Lord Melbourne bearing the sword c. Jun 1838
Pencil, watercolour | 24.4 x 18.6 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 980021.g
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A watercolour showing Lord Melbourne carrying the Sword of State at Queen Victoria's coronation. Lord Melbourne is shown facing left in profile, holding the sword upright in front of him in one hand. He is shown wearing a red robe trimmed with ermine, the train of which is being carried by his page, Lord Paget. Inscribed below: Lord Melbourne bearing the sword. Queen Victoria’s Coronation took place on 28 June 1838 at Westminster Abbey. After the event, the Queen made several drawings ‘recollecting’ the Coronation, under the guidance of her teacher Sir George Hayter. In her journal entry of 28 June 1838, Queen Victoria describes how after the ceremony Lord Melbourne confided to her that "the Sword he carried (the 1st, the Sword of State) was excessively heavy" but his page, the young Lord Paget, was "remarkably handy".
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Medium and techniques
Pencil, watercolour
Measurements
24.4 x 18.6 cm (sheet of paper)