Provenance

Purchased by Queen Victoria in 1854. Possibly a work executed for HRH Prince Albert which was delivered with Consani's sculpture of Prince Robert and Princess Margaret of Bourbon-Parma in 1853 (RCIN 41037), according to a letter in the Royal Archive (RA PP2/6/4649 ), dated 22nd June 1854, sent from Antonio Panizzi (1797–1879) librarian at the British Museum, to Charles Grey (1804-1870) secretary to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert:-

'An Italian sculptor, Mr Vincenzo Consani, has brought me a letter of introduction from Parma, from which it appears as is confirmed by him, that he has sculptured a group representing the two sons of the late Duke of Parma, and that that group is sent by the widow of the Duke, now Regent at Parma, to Her Majesty. This poor gentleman is much put out because the package, as also another addressed to HRH the Prince Albert, has been addressed to the Queen, and he does not know what is become of either. He is moreover extremely anxious to unpack the two packages himself''.

Displayed in the Princesses' Corridor at Osborne House. Recorded in the 1901 Inventory of Osborne House.