Christian Karl Magnussen (1821-96)
The Marriage of Princess Helena, 5 July 1866 Signed and dated 1866-9
Oil on canvas | 92.2 x 137.1 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external) | RCIN 404483
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The marriage of Princess Helena with Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein took place in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Charles Longley, performed the ceremony. Queen Victoria can be seen standing just behind the bridal couple and in the gallery above are the choir and a number of guests.
Princess Helena (1846-1923), nicknamed Lenchen, was Queen Victoria’s fifth child and third daughter. She was lively, outspoken and something of a tomboy. In 1916 she and Prince Christian celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary; she was the only child of Queen Victoria to do so.
The artist, Christian Karl Magnussen, was recommended to Queen Victoria by her eldest daughter Victoria, Crown Princess of Prussia. The Queen, however , was not entirely happy with the finished painting. She wrote to the Crown Princess that she thought Magnussen’s portraits most unsuccessful and his touch strangely coarse and dry. ‘You are quite right’ the Crown Princess wrote in reply ‘I do not think much of him as an artist but I like him as a good and amiable man. I think his portraits lamentable’.
Signed and dated: 'Christian Magnussen 1866-69 / Windsor Castle & Hamburg.'Provenance
Commissioned by Queen Victoria; recorded hanging in Windsor Castle in 1879
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Creator(s)
Commissioner(s)
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Medium and techniques
Oil on canvas
Measurements
92.2 x 137.1 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external)
123.3 x 169.5 x 13.5 cm (frame, external)
Category
Object type(s)
Other number(s)
Alternative title(s)
The Marriage of Princess Helena and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein.
