At home
Royal etchings by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Past exhibition
19 July – 1 September 2019
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This collection of rare etchings made by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of family life revealed that the royal couple were talented artists – and more affectionate parents than often thought.
Made in the 1840s in the early years of their marriage, the prints were donated to the Museum by King George V in 1926 and it was the first time they were on public display.
The etchings – a type of printmaking involving drawing on a metal plate – depict domestic scenes of their life in Windsor and Claremont and often feature their beloved children and pets. Victoria and Albert were talented and enthusiastic amateur artists, Prince Albert having introduced the Queen to the practice of etching soon after their marriage in 1840.
They enjoyed working together on etchings and a number of their prints were collaborations. Some of the etchings by Prince Albert that were on display were actually based on Victoria's own earlier drawings, demonstrating how much they liked to work together.
