Albumen photo circa 1880's of Queen Victoria with Princess Beatrice and a Group of 4 Dogs plus a copy of a note originally written by Queen Victoria 1876

Very interesting and rare circa 1880's albumen photo of Queen Victoria with Princess Beatrice and Queen Victoria's her 4 dogs plus a circa 1876 Queen Victoria hand-written note photographed: Victoria, Beatrice - "Waldmann" "Fern", "Sharp" and "Noble" . Princess Beatrice, was Queen Victoria youngest child and wife of Prince Henry of Battenberg (1857-1944). Original albumen photo of a presumed circa 1877 Charles Burton Barber painting, with some foxing and a bit faded otherwise good condition.

This photo is unusual in part because it appears to be a very similar image of Charles Burton Barber* oil on canvas painting "Queen Victoria with Princess Beatrice and a Group of Dogs (before Apr 1877)" which shows Queen Victoria seated near the Slopes at Windsor painted for the Queen from photographs. Princess Beatrice stands beside her and they are surrounded by four dogs: Waldmann, Fern, Sharp and Noble. Barber was paid £24 for the picture on 2 April 1877. It was originally hung at Osborne House, it was transferred in 1903 to Buckingham Palace. The painting is held at the Royal Collection Trust (RCIN 406403). Our albumen photograph is virtually the same image as the Barber painting except for the angle on the head of Princess Beatrice. We speculate possibly this may have been one of the photos Barber used as a reference when painting the above mentioned oil painting. Much more to this photo story we are sure! *Charles Burton Barber (1845-94) [painter] He was a nineteenth century British artist best known for his paintings of animals. Between 1872 and 1894 Barber was frequently employed by Queen Victoria.

Condition & Photo comments: Original albumen photo with some foxing and a bit faded otherwise good condition.

The paper for the overall background appears to be photographic which includes the note which was originally written Queen Victoria. The base photographic paper has old tear/peeling marks on it probably because of previous mat framing being removed where the image and note had been mat framed.

The 8-1/4 x 6-1/4 inch image of Queen Victoria, Beatrice and the dogs is an albumen photograph affixed to the overall base photographic paper background. As part of the photographic back ground the name of the photographer is shown. Hills & Saunders, Eton, photographic company. They are known as photographers to 'Her Majesty the Queen' and 'H.R.H. the Prince of Wales' 1860's-present. Located in Buckinghamshire until 1974, when it was transferred to Berkshire.

The photo was retouched to highlight some of the details.

Queen Victoria loved her dogs, and consequently, she memorialised them, as she would her other faithful servants and friends. These memorials, mostly hidden, help us to understand that more.

‘Sharp' (1865-1879) was another collie-dog from Aberarder. ‘Sharp' was buried under a cedar tree at Windsor when he died, under the (private) Castle Terrace. the news of his death is the Queen's entire (edited) journal entry for 20 November 1879. ‘Sharp' was sculpted in bronze on a marble plinth by the eminent sculptor Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm as a statue over his grave in around 1881. The inscription reads still: ‘Sharp. The Favourite and Faithful Collie of Queen Victoria from 1865 to 1879. Died Nov 1879. Aged 15 years'.

‘Noble' (1871-1887). A moving memorial was erected to ‘Noble' by Boehm in the grounds at Balmoral, showing him sculpted, ever ready to attend his royal mistress. A sculpture in marble of him may also be found in the Grand Corridor at Osborne House. ‘Noble' had once guarded the Queen's gloves (Christopher Hibbert, Queen Victoria: A Personal History, Queen Victoria wished for Noble's grave at Balmoral to be a brick vault, with the ‘dear dog to be wrapped up in the box lined with lead and charcoal, placed in it' (In this photo probably Noble III)

Quoted from "Queen Victoria's memorials to her dogs" article E.J. Timms

Waldmann. A smooth-haired dachshund, the first, arrived from Germany in June 1840. The Queen, throughout her life owned several dachshunds. All of them were called Waldmann. This photo is proabably Waldmann VI.

Fern (c1870-76). Brother of Sharp. Black-and-tan collie.