Mendelssohn was a favourite acquaintance of the Queen and Prince Albert. He played music with them on several occasions, dedicated several of his works to them and arranged one of his Songs without Words for them to play together. When he died in 1847, at the age of 38, the Queen wrote: 'to think, when one is playing his beautiful music, that he is no more, seems incomprehensible'.

Text from Victoria & Albert: Art & Love, Royal Collection Catalogue, 2010 (Cat 147)