A nineteenth-century royal Carte-de-Visite (CDV) portrait of Queen Victoria (1819–1901), photographed by Southwell Brothers – Photographers Royal, London. Of particular interest is Queen Victoria’s notably youthful appearance, portraying the sovereign before her widowhood and before the black mourning attire of her later reign became her most familiar public image. The Queen is portrayed seated in an upholstered chair beside a large window overlooking a landscape. She wears a broad plaid-patterned skirt, dark jacket and bonnet, and holds a closed parasol. The composition presents Victoria in a comparatively informal and domestic setting, in contrast to the more elaborate ceremonial state portraits of the sovereign. The mount is captioned: “Her Majesty The Queen.” with the photographer's credit “SOUTHWELL.” The reverse carries the original royal studio backmark: “SOUTHWELL BROTHERS PHOTOGRAPHERS ROYAL 16 & 22 BAKER STREET, LONDON.” surmounted by a royal emblem. The lower portion of the reverse records the photograph's wholesale publication by: A. Marion & Co., 23 Soho Square, London. An attractive Victorian royal portrait combining Queen Victoria in an unusually informal seated composition, Southwell Brothers' designation as Photographers Royal, the original royal studio backmark and contemporary London publication by A. Marion & Co.
Auction 01: Auction 01 – Historical Letters, Documents & Autographs — Melis Antiques & Art