Re: Queen Victoria. Any ideas regarding her jewellery? Archived Message
Posted by Arthur  on July 11, 2015, 4:43 am, in reply to "Queen Victoria. Any ideas regarding her jewellery?"
This painting is a study for a painting made in 1863 by Thomas Jones Barker, 'The Secret of England's Greatness' (Queen Victoria presenting a Bible in the Audience Chamber at Windsor):
The sketch (posted by Beth):
 And the final painting:
(Source: National Portrait Gallery's website)
The National Portrait Gallery's website gives interesting information about the title and context of this painting:
http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw00071/The-Secret-of-Englands-Greatness-Queen-Victoria-presenting-a-Bible-in-the-Audience-Chamber-at-Windsor
"This is an imagined scene, with real historical figures. Queen Victoria is shown at Windsor Castle receiving an ambassador from East Africa, to whom she is presenting a fine Bible. An open Bible, with a painted quotation, is carved onto the frame.
The scene depicted is based on a popular but unfounded anecdote current in the 1850s. This stated that, when asked by a diplomatic delegation how Britain had become powerful in the world, 'our beloved Queen sent him, not the number of her fleet, not the number of her armies, not the account of her boundless merchandise, not the details of her inexhaustible wealth … but handing him a beautifully bound copy of the Bible, she said 'Tell the Prince that this is the Secret of England's Greatness'.
In his desire to blend patriotism and piety, the artist drew on various historical events. The African envoy is probably based on Ali bin Nasr, governor of Mombasa, who attended Victoria's coronation in 1838 and returned again in 1842, together with his young interpreter Mohammed bin Khamis. Although not a portrait, his costume is that of the Omani rulers of east Africa.
Both the British government and the Queen frequently invoked Christian faith in respect of foreign affairs. To the ruler of Abeokuta - the Yoruba region of Nigeria - in 1849, Victoria sent copies of the Bible in English and Arabic 'to show how much she values God's word'.
To add a contemporary aspect, the artist set his scene in 1861, as the Queen's spreading crinoline shows. She is attended by Prince Albert and two politicians - Lord John Russell and Lord Palmerston, respectively Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister.
Probably intended for exhibition in 1862, the painting could not be shown then owing to Prince Albert's untimely death in December 1861. It was first exhibited in 1863 before embarking on a national tour designed to sell the mezzotint reproduction, entitled simply 'The Bible'".
As you can see, there are several differences between the study posted by Beth and the final painting (the position of the Queen and of the other characters, the Queen's dress...). Regarding the jewels worn by Queen Victoria, she is wearing on both versions the pearl bracelet with a portrait of Prince Albert (that she wore almost every day throughout her life); but on the final version, she is wearing an opal and gold tiara and ropes of pearls, while on the sketch posted by Beth, she looks as if she is wearing a ruby tiara, and a gold chain with a locket around the neck. I incline to think that the sketch might be artistic licence, whereas the final painting would be more accurate, but this is just speculation from me.
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