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1 of 253523 objects
Edward VIII (1894-1972), when Prince of Wales 1911
Oil on canvas board | 28.0 x 21.0 x 0.4 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external) | RCIN 407556
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A full-length portrait of Edward VIII, when Prince of Wales, standing in profile to the left; wearing the long blue cloak of the Order of the Garter, chain and badge and tall white plumed hat; standing near an imagined wall and garden; Windsor Castle in the distance to the left.
The Prince of Wales was invested in the most noble and historic Order of the Garter at Windsor in June 1911 and this small painting presumably commemorates that occasion. When his father, King George V, ascended to the throne on 6 May 1910, Edward became the Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay, and was created Prince of Wales on 23 June 1910, his sixteen birthday. He was officially invested as Prince of Wales at Caernarvon Castle on 13 July 1911. This event was documented by the Welsh artist Christopher Williams (RCIN 400096).
An undated press cutting, which perhaps relates to this painting, documented that: 'In June of the present year Miss Lindsay Williams painted a portrait in oils of the Prince of Wales, and when her Majesty the Queen [Queen Mary] saw it she immediately wrote to Miss Williams stating how greatly she admired it and afterwards purchased the work.'
The Cardiff-born artist, Margaret Lindsay Williams, trained at the local art school and Pelham Street School, Kensington, London, prior to attending the Royal Academy Schools. Here she won the gold medal in art in 1911 for a large historical painting, 'The City of Refuge' (private collection). She then toured France, Italy, and Holland, following the advice of her favourite teacher, John Singer Sargent. She became well known to the general public through her 1937 portrait group of Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, which was widely reproduced. According to the artist's obituary this was exhibited at the Raeburn Gallery where it was purchased for presentation to a South African gallery as a Coronation gift.
She painted other members of the Royal family, including Queen Alexandra, 1921 (RCIN 402234), Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1900-2002) when Duchess of York (RCIN 408229) and Queen Elizabeth II, 1952 (Manchester Town Hall). Larger commissions included the 'National Welsh War Service in Westminster Abbey', 1918, completed c. 1924 (Cardiff City Council) and 'The Re-opening of St Paul's Cathedral', 1930, which was presented to the Cathedral by Lord Riddell.Provenance
Presumably purchased by Queen Mary
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Creator(s)
(artists' materials maker) -
Medium and techniques
Oil on canvas board
Measurements
28.0 x 21.0 x 0.4 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external)
35.0 x 24.0 x 2.0 cm (frame, external)
Category
Object type(s)