A rare and impressive large-format royal family photograph, mounted on its original large photographer’s card, photo by W. Watson of Ballater, dated 1889, depicting Queen Victoria with the family of her youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice. The photographic composition is documented in the British Royal Collection. The portrait brings together three generations of the Royal Family: Queen Victoria; her daughter Princess Beatrice; Beatrice’s husband Prince Henry of Battenberg; and their three children then born – Prince Alexander Albert of Battenberg, Princess Victoria Eugénie of Battenberg, and Prince Leopold of Battenberg. Of particular dynastic significance is the young Princess Victoria Eugénie, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, who would marry King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1906 and become Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain. Beneath the photograph appears the royal autograph: “Victoria R.I. ” the initials R.I. – Regina Imperatrix representing Victoria’s titles as Queen and Empress. The names of the other members of the family are also inscribed beneath the image. According to the previous description accompanying the photograph, these additional inscriptions are probably in the hand of Princess Beatrice. The mount bears the photographer’s credit W. Watson, Ballater and the date 1889. The reverse carries Watson’s elaborate decorative backmark incorporating the Royal Arms and the words “Under Royal Patronage.” An exceptional piece of royal photographic memorabilia combining a documented royal family portrait, three generations of Queen Victoria’s family, the Queen’s “Victoria R.I.” autograph, contemporary family identifications, Princess Beatrice, and the childhood image of the future Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain.
Auction 01: Auction 01 – Historical Letters, Documents & Autographs — Melis Antiques & Art