Highlight paintings at Buckingham Palace
Learn more about the paintings on display at Buckingham Palace this summer
The Royal Family in 1846
Signed and dated 1846RCIN 405413
In this well-known painting Queen Victoria is skilfully depicted as both sovereign and mother. The scene is one of domestic harmony, peace and happiness albeit with many allusions to royal status.
In May 1846 Queen Victoria wrote to the French king, Louis-Philippe, to ask him to release Winterhalter from his role as court painter in the autumn so that he could paint a large picture of her family for Osborne. Queen Victoria considered the finished painting 'a "chef d'oeuvre"... such beautiful, brilliant, fresh colouring - & we were enchanted'. However, it was not well received by the press. They criticised the 'sensual and fleshy' depiction of the royal couple. The Prince's hands were likened to those of a farmer and the fact that a foreign artist had been chosen for such an important royal commission was a source of contention.