Another impression of RCIN 816051. An etching showing two studies of a girl dressed in peasant costume. Probably Princess Adelheid of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. After RCIN 981591. In the study to the left she is shown full-length, standing and facing right in profile with her hands on her hips. In the study to the right she is shown full-length, seated on a rock and facing left in profile. Hills are shown in the background. Inscribed lower right: VR 28/9 1840.

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.

Princess Adelheid of Hohenlohe-Langenburg was the daughter of Queen Victoria's elder half-sister Princess Feodora of Leiningen. Princess Adelheid, known as Ada, visited England with her mother and siblings in September 1840.

Scott-Elliott no. 10

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.