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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Portraiture

Prince Albert was an early adopter of portrait photography

WILLIAM HENRY FOX TALBOT (1800-77)

Prince Alfred

c. 1850

Salted paper print | 9.2 x 8.0 cm (image) | RCIN 2506513

Photograph of a lithograph of a painting depicting a three-quarter length portrait of Prince Alfred, later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1844-1900) standing, facing three-quarters to the right. He turns his head towards the viewer. He carries a straw hat.

The painting on which the print is based is by Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805-73) and is held by the Royal Collection (RCIN 405037).

  • Creator(s)

    William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-77) (photographer)

    After Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805-73) (artist)

    Subject(s)

    Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (1844-1900)

  • annotation: Prince Alfred. 1846./ Photograph by W. Talbot/ after the Lithograph after/ Winterhalter.- [beneath work]

  • 9.2 x 8.0 cm (image)

  • From an album compiled by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Subject(s)
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Industries, Crafts and Trades
        • Clothing
          • Headgear
            • Hats
    • Arts, Recreation, Entertainment & Sport
      • Art
        • Paintings
    Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
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