A rare and impressive signed cabinet portrait of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1844–1900), second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The Prince is shown standing in full formal military uniform, wearing a sash, numerous decorations and medals, with his sword at his side. The photographer's imprint appears along the lower margin: “Hofphot. Professor Uhlenhuth, Coburg” identifying the image as the work of court photographer Professor Uhlenhuth of Coburg. The lower margin additionally bears an original autograph inscription and signature in Prince Alfred's own hand, incorporating his signature and German ducal title as Herzog von Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha. Prince Alfred was the fourth child and second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. He pursued a distinguished career in the Royal Navy and in 1866 was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Kent and Earl of Ulster. In 1893, following the death of his uncle Ernst II without an heir, Alfred succeeded to the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, ruling as Duke until his death in 1900. The autograph inscription identifying him by his German ducal title therefore provides useful evidence for dating the photograph to his reign, c. 1893–1900. The portrait was produced in Coburg by a court photographer, entirely consistent with Alfred's position as reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. An important and visually imposing piece of royal photographic and autograph material combining a large cabinet portrait, a formal military image of Queen Victoria's son, Coburg court-photographer provenance, and Prince Alfred's original autograph signature incorporating his title as Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Auction 01: Auction 01 – Historical Letters, Documents & Autographs — Melis Antiques & Art