Victoria (24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and seven months is second in length to that of Elizabeth II (1926 – 2022), who occupied the throne for 70 years.
Queen Victoria kept journals, illustrating many of the entries with drawings and watercolours. A keen artist from an early age, the Queen made numerous sketches of her homes and family, the places she visited and the people she met. A selection of her works is presented here. Some were drawn directly into her Journals as illustrations of her diary entries, while others are taken from her albums and sketchbooks, housed in the Print Room at Windsor Castle.
In May 2012, Queen Elizabeth II wrote:
In this the year of my Diamond Jubilee, I am delighted to be able to present, for the first time, the complete on-line collection of Queen Victoria’s journals from the Royal Archives.
These diaries cover the period from Queen Victoria’s childhood days to her Accession to the Throne, marriage to Prince Albert, and later, her Golden and Diamond Jubilees.
Thirteen volumes in Victoria’s own hand survive, and the majority of the remaining volumes were transcribed after Queen Victoria’s death by her youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice, on her mother’s instructions.
It seems fitting that the subject of the first major public release of material from the Royal Archives is Queen Victoria, who was the first Monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee.
It is hoped that this historic collection will make a valuable addition to the unique material already held by the Bodleian Libraries at Oxford University, and will be used to enhance our knowledge and understanding of the past.
Journal Illustration- Wednesday 1st August 1832 Elizabethan lady and horse- pen and ink sketches [by Princess Victoria ?] on blotting paper
Journal Illustration- Tuesday 18th August 1857 Women and children of Cherbourg- pen and ink sketches with watercolour, by Queen Victoria
Journal Illustration- Saturday 3rd September 1842 Scottish fisherwomen- pen and ink sketch with watercolour, by Queen Victoria
Journal Illustration- Sunday 10th July 1842 Victoria, Princess Royal nude trying to climb into a bath- pen and ink sketch by Queen Victoria
Journal Illustration- Thursday 17th August 1848 The nine grandchildren of the Duchess of Kent- pen and ink sketch by Queen Victoria
Journal Illustration- Tuesday 6th January 1852 Queen Victoria’s children in costume for a Twelfth Night performance- ink and watercolour sketch by Queen Victoria
Journal Illustration- Friday 13th June 1851 Prince Albert, Queen Victoria and Prince Charles of Leiningen [?] in their costumes for the Stuart Ball- watercolour by Queen Victoria
Journal Illustration- Saturday 1st January 1848 Queen Victoria’s 5 children dressed as Coburg and Thüringen peasants- pen and ink sketch by Queen Victoria
Journal Illustration- Tuesday 9th November 1847 Three sketches of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, in jacket and trousers- profile; back view; front view- pen and ink sketches by Queen Victoria
Journal Illustration- Monday 10th February 1845 Bracelet given to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert- pen and ink sketch with watercolour, by Prince Albert
Journal Illustration- Saturday 13th September 1834 A riding party- pen and ink sketch by Princess Victoria
Journal Illustration- Wednesday 1st August 1832 Horses’ head- pen and ink sketches [by Princess Victoria ?] on blotting paper
Sketchbook Illustration- c.1834 “Sir John Conroy”. Cut silhouette, by an unknown artist, from Queen Victoria’s ‘Book of Shades’.
Sketchbook Illustration- 1833 “Dash”. Pencil drawing of Princess Victoria’s favourite dog, by Princess Victoria.
Sketchbook Illustration- 1833 “Dash”. Pencil drawing of Princess Victoria’s favourite dog, by Princess Victoria.
Sketchbook Illustration- c.1827 “La chasse”. Pencil drawing, by Princess Victoria.
Sketchbook Illustration- 17 August 1831 A young girl standing next to a spring. Watercolour, by Princess Victoria, after Richard Westall.
More
- Queen Victoria’s Journals — online site maintained by the Bodleian Libraries and the Royal Archives.
- Royal Archives — official website of the British monarchy.
- Extracts from Victoria’s diaries
Would you like to support Flashbak?
Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.
