This website presents our knowledge and research on this important aspect of the Royal Collection. As of April 2026 it will not be regularly updated and new research on this topic will sit within the main website.

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Exhibitions and records of works of art

Prince Albert recognised the importance of photography to record and document notable exhibitions and works of art

CHARLES THURSTON THOMPSON (1816-68)

'A Plate. Murder of the Innocents'

c. 1855

Albumen print? | RCIN 2864540

Photograph of a faience dish created around 1540 and now in the collection of the Louvre, Paris (MR 2204). The work depicts the Massacre of the Innocents with armed soldiers attacking young children and wrestling with women who attempt to protect them. The scene takes place in an outdoor space within a city formed by narrow, domed buildings. The design was base on an engraving by Marcantonio Raimondi (c.1480–1534), after Raphael.

The work has been attributed to Orazio Fontana (c.1510 - 1576).

  • Creator(s)

    Charles Thurston Thompson (1816-68) (photographer)

    After Orazio Fontana (1510-1571) (potter)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
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Royal Collection Trust is a charity caring for the Royal Collection and welcoming visitors to the royal palaces. We bring our shared history to life through world-class experiences that involve and inspire people, wherever they are. Income from tickets and retail sales helps us to conserve the Collection so that it can be enjoyed by everyone for generations to come.