Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are pleased to offer for sale this rather beautiful. oval portrait oil on board of Princess Alexandra, later Queen Alexandra, by an unknown artist. The painting depicts her in profile, with her red hair piled high on her head in her usual fashion, held with a pearl clip to the side. She is wearing diamond earrings, a diamond and pearl choker and a long double string of pearls. Her dress is of black organza material with a deep frill around the neckline, scattered with sequins and transparent sleeves.

Princess Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia of Denmark was born in Copenhagen at the Yellow Palace on 1st December 1844, the youngest child of King Christian IX. She married Albert Edward Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII in 1863 at St. George's Chapel, Windsor and the couple had 6 children. Her eldest son Prince Albert Victor died on January 14th 1892 during an epidemic of influenze, which affected her greatly.

She had a small scar on her neck from an operation in early life and hid it by wearing choker necklaces, as in this painting. This set a fashion for chokers which continued for 50 years. She had suffered from rheumatic fever, which had left her with a stiff leg, which was aggravated by the difficult birth of her third child Princess Louise. She also suffered after the birth with deafness, which had also affected her mother.

She bore her husband's continuous womanizing with dignity and stood in for Queen Victoria at an endless round of functions, hospital visits and charity bazaars. She was much beloved by the British public. Despite her devotion to her duties, she managed to find time for her hobbies which were woodworking and photography. Her wood carvings were exhibited.

After Edward succeeded to the throne in 1901, in 1902, after Edward had recovered from appendicitis, she was crowned his Queen Empress. After a short reign of only 9 years, Edward VII died of a series of heart attacks on 6th May 1910 and her son became George V. She left Buckingham Palace and retired to Sandringham as the Dowager Queen, where she died of a heart attack on 28th November 1925 at the age of 80. She is buried at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, beside her husband.

The painting is framed in a 1 5/8" over gilt frame with a floral and foliate surmount and foot and a beaded rim. It will be supplied wired and ready to hang.

Image size: 19 3/8" x 15 5/8" - 49.2cm x 39.55cm

Frame size: 23 5/8" x 18 7/8" - 60cm x 48cm

Medium: Oils on board

Condition: Very good. The surface is clean and there is no craquelure or paint loss. The frame is in very good condition consistent with age.