A fine royal albumen Carte-de-Visite (CDV) portrait of Victoria, Princess Royal (1840–1901), eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, later German Empress and Queen of Prussia – Empress Frederick, photographed in an intimate pose with one of her young daughters. The portrait was produced by the royal photographic studio Hills & Saunders of Eton. Victoria is seated closely beside her young daughter, who holds an open book. The mother places an arm around the child and leans her head affectionately towards her, creating an unusually warm and intimate family composition quite distinct from the more formal royal portraiture of the period. The front is marked: “HILLS & SAUNDERS” “REGISTERED” “ETON.” The reverse bears the elaborate crowned backmark of the studio, including: “By appointment to Her Majesty HILLS & SAUNDERS PHOTOGRAPHERS ETON” together with references to their London, Harrow, Oxford and Cambridge establishments. An old manuscript identification at the top of the reverse reads: “Crown Princess of Germany.” Victoria was the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and held the British title Princess Royal. In 1858 she married Prince Frederick William of Prussia, later Emperor Frederick III. In 1888 she became German Empress and Queen of Prussia and, following her husband's death, was known as Empress Frederick – Kaiserin Friedrich. She was also the mother of Kaiser Wilhelm II. An appealing and comparatively unusual royal family photograph capturing an intimate moment between Queen Victoria's eldest daughter and one of her young daughters, in the classic CDV format by the prestigious royal photographers Hills & Saunders.
Auction 01: Auction 01 – Historical Letters, Documents & Autographs — Melis Antiques & Art