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Victoria commissioned works that memorialised her beloved husband

Mourning portraits

Following Prince Albert’s (1819-61) death in 1861, Queen Victoria’s (1819-1901) inconsolable grief led her to retreat from public life. Photography, and its dissemination through popular and affordable collectible formats, allowed her likeness to be present despite her physical absence from public life. Photographic family portraits from this period often included William Theed’s (1804-91) posthumous bust of Prince Albert, used as a compositional device to emphasise his continued influence. The most poignant of such photographs include those taken on the occasion of the wedding of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII (1841-1910), and Princess Alexandra of Denmark, later Queen Alexandra (1844-1925). A variety of media were used for portraits commemorating Prince Albert, including a series of transfer-printed enamels by Alexander Lamont Henderson (1838-1907).

Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1819-1901)

Brass tablet

Camille Silvy (1834-1910)

Portable photograph frame

Alexander Lamont Henderson (1838-1907)

Enamel portrait of Prince Albert (1819-61)

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Group portrait with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Family portrait with bust of Prince Albert

Orlando Norie (1832-1901)

Prince Albert (1819-61)

Jenner & Knewstub, (33 St. Jame's St)

Prince Albert (1819-61)

Alexander Lamont Henderson (1838-1907)

Prince Albert (1819-61)

Alexander Lamont Henderson (1838-1907)

Prince Albert (1819-61)

After John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

The Royal Family

Alexander Lamont Henderson (1838-1907)

Prince Albert (1819-61)

After Edward Henry Corbould (1815-1905)

Memorial portrait to the Prince Consort

Frank Holl (1845-88)

Prince Albert (1819-61)

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

Queen Victoria and Princess Alice with bust of Prince Albert

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

Queen Victoria and Princess Alice with bust of Prince Albert

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

Queen Victoria and Princess Alice with a bust Prince Albert

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

Queen Victoria and Princess Alice with a bust of Prince Albert

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

Queen Victoria and Princess Alice, 1862 [in Portraits of Royal Children Vol.6 1862-1863]

William Bambridge (1810-79)

The royal children in mourning

William Bambridge (1810-79)

The royal children in mourning

William Bambridge (1810-79)

The royal children in mourning

William Bambridge (1810-79)

The royal children in mourning

William Bambridge (1810-79)

Prince Alfred (1844-1900)

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Group photograph with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Group photograph with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Group photograph with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Group photograph with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Group photograph with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Group photograph with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Group photograph with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Group photograph with bust of Prince Albert

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

Queen Victoria with her daughter Princess Alice

Louis Joseph Ghémar (1819-73)

Queen Victoria and Princess Helena

Ghémar Frères (active 1859-94)

Queen Victoria (1819-1901)

Ghémar Frères (active 1859-94)

 Queen Victoria (1819-1901)

Ghémar Frères (active 1859-94)

Queen Victoria (1819-1901)

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Family portrait with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Family portrait with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Family portrait with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Family portrait with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Family portrait with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Family portrait with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Family portrait with bust of Prince Albert

John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901)

Family portrait with bust of Prince Albert