The first impression of an etching showing two female figures. After RCIN 981593. From the same plate as ASE 3(b). The figure to the left is shown half-length, standing and facing right in profile. She is wearing a veil and a wreath of flowers in her hair. The figure to the right is shown half-length, seated and facing right. She is resting her chin on one hand and is dressed in classical-style costume, possibly as the title character from Bellini's opera Norma.
Inscribed lower right: 1st impression VR. Sept: 4 - 1840. - invt: & sketched.

Queen Victoria's first etching was made on 28 August 1840, under the guidance of Sir George Hayter who was working on his oil painting of the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (RCIN 407165) at the time.

Hayter was responsible for the acid-biting of all of the early plates but was soon replaced in this task by Queen Victoria's dresser, Marianne Skerrett. The London dealers and publishers Colnaghi & Co were also used for some of the more complicated plates. A printing press was set up at Buckingham Palace in 1840 by the firm of Holdgate but some of the royal couple's plates were also printed by a Mr Brown of Castle-Street, Windsor, in the autumn of that year.

Scott-Elliott no. 3(a)

This etching is housed in one of six volumes, put together by Queen Victoria, of etchings by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. For other items in this album see Victoria & Albert Etchings Volume 1.