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horse sketched by Edward VII
Royal Copyists

Explore royal copies of Great Masters in the Royal Collection

HENRI VOORDECKER (1779-1861)

Pigeons

Signed and dated 1841

Oil on panel | 25.7 x 22.5 cm (support, canvas/panel/str external) | RCIN 403872

Prince Albert was charmed by this painting of roosting pigeons, by Belgian artist Henri Voordecker, which Queen Victoria gave him for his birthday in 1841. Albert decided to put his newly acquired etching skills to the test by copying a section of the painting, which was then printed using the printing press installed in Buckingham Place the year before. The image was reversed by the printing process.

Henri Voordecker (1779-1861) studied with Jean-Baptiste le Roy. He specialized in genre scenes, landscapes and romantic depictions of animals, particularly pigeons. During his lifetime he won acclaim in Britain. His painting The Hunter's Return was boughtAnother impression of RCIN 816154. An etching showing three pigeons roosting. After Henri Voordecker (RCIN 403872). Two pigeons are shown resting on a beam with a further pigeon shown balanced on a beam above. Inscribed lower left: Albert 11/7 41. Prince
Painting by Henri Voordecker
Etching by Prince Albert
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