Queen Victoria's Rare Etchings Will Go on Display for the First Time This Summer
Two-hundred years after Queen Victoria's birth, some of the British monarch's rare personal etchings are finally being made public. Later this summer, an exhibition of Victoria's art titled "At Home: Royal Etchings by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert" will be displayed for the first time at the British Museum in London.
As its name suggests, the exhibit will feature works by both the British Queen and her consort Prince Albert, many of which offer a behind-the-scenes look at royal life in the 19th century.
Victoria and Albert started etching shortly after their wedding in 1840, with the help of artist Sir George Hayter, and their subjects often included their children, pets, and each other, in a domestic setting. In total, 20 of these works will be on display.
“The scenes Victoria depicts in her drawings show her to be a very affectionate mother, and it’s clear that both she and Albert enjoyed spending time with their children," says Sheila O’Connell, the curator of prints and drawings at the British Museum.
In 1926 King George V, Queen Victoria's grandson (and Queen Elizabeth's grandfather), donated the pieces to the British Museum.
"We’re delighted that we can now put these works on display for the first time since King George V donated them to us," O’Connell says. "It is the perfect way to celebrate 200 years since the birth of these towering figures of British history, who were also enthusiastic artists."
At Home: Royal Etchings by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert will open on July 18, and is free to the public. For more information on how to visit the British Museum, visit the institution's website.
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