Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were passionate patrons of the arts. But what might surprise a number of people is the revelation that they were also enthusiastic amateur artists, who dabbled with etching throughout their marriage. Now etchings by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert from the Royal Collection are due to go on show at the London Original Print Fair in April.
Both were keen amateur artists, Prince Albert introduced Victoria to the practice of etching soon after their marriage in 1840. The couple often worked on plates together; the two prints on show, one by each member of royalty, are dated 13 January 1842, both prints depict rustic figures modelled on sketches by the Queen’s favourite artist, Edwin Landseer – as reported in the Art Newspaper.
Martin Clayton, the senior curator of prints and drawings at the Royal Collection, has selected 30 prints for the standalone exhibition, which marks the 30th anniversary of the fair running from 23 to 26 April 2015. The two etchings by the royal couple will go on display alongside etchings, woodcuts, and lithographs by Old Masters including Albrecht Dürer, Raphaël, Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, and Canaletto.
Despite being the works being shown as part of an art fair, none of the 30 works in the exhibition – which belong to the Royal Collection – will be for sale.
The 30th edition of the London Original Print Fair will take place at the Royal Academy, gathering up to 50 print dealers, galleries, and publishers. The available works will be wide-ranging, from Rembrandt to Grayson Perry, with prices from as little as £100 all the way up to £250,000.