Very large Stag shot by the Prince on Monedth Gape

A pencil drawing showing the head of a dead stag. The stag is shown facing right in profile and is resting on a small table. Inscribed below: Very large Stag shot by the Prince on Monedth Gape. Sept: 30. 1856 weighed 20 stone! (Each haunch weighed 47lbs.) VR del Oct: 1 - 1856.

Deer stalking was a favourite pastime of Prince Albert, especially while staying at Balmoral. Queen Victoria would often sketch her husband's prizes once they had been brought back to Balmoral. Prince Albert went on a successful stalking trip on 30 September 1856 and in her journal entry of that day, Queen Victoria describes how "The stag, as usual, was exhibited, & our astonishment was great, when we heard that he weighed no less than 20 stone!! — a most rare occurrence in any Forest, but quite unknown in this neighbourhood!"

This drawing is one of a series of drawings from an album (RCIN 2116979) of photographs and drawings of stags shot by Prince Albert.