Princess Beatrice of Battenberg, by (Ann) Mary Newton (née Severn (1832-1866)

Princess Beatrice of Battenberg (1857-1944)

After (Ann) Mary Newton (1832-1866)

Lithographer: Richard James Lane (1800-1872)

Printed by M & N Hanhart (active 1839-1882)

1858

22 1/2 in. x 15 1/8 in. (570 mm x 385 mm) paper size

Given by Austin Lane Poole, 1956

Princess Beatrice was Victoria and Albert's ninth and last child, and fifth daughter. [Commentary continues below.]

Image download (with mount slightly cropped), text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. [Click on the image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text for links.]

Princess Beatrice, just old enough to sit up, play, and respond to the artist with a happy smile, grew up to marry Prince Henry of Battenberg. She became the Governor of the Isle of Wight, ling at Carisbrooke Castle there, but is best remembered now for having edited and transcribed her mother's diaries, filling 111 books in the process (see Ridley 479).

According the National Portrait Gallery, Lane first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1824, was elected an associate engraver in 1827, and "specialised in portraiture; he produced hundreds of portraits of royalty, actors, artists and other notable society members. Queen Victoria appointed him royal lithographer in 1837." As for the firm of M & N Hanhart, the same source tells us that this "published a wide range of material, from book illustrations to lithographic sheet music covers," but was best known for "large, individual chromolithographs.... Using a complex layering of tint stones, Hanhart printed elaborate works unique for their colouration and tonal values." Obviously, and appropriately for the present subject, this is one of their simpler ones. It seems to be from a drawing in graphite.

Related Material

Bibliography

Princess Beatrice of Battenberg. (See also the very helpful linked information here, referred to and quoted in the commentary above.) National Portrait Gallery London. Web. 10 January 2020.

Ridley, Jane. Bertie: A Life of Edward VII. London: Chatto & Windus, 2012. [Review]

Created 10 January 2020