Another impression of RCIN 816039. An etching showing two head studies of dogs. After RCIN 981573. Queen Victoria's Cairn Terrier, Islay, is shown to the left, facing right in profile. Inscribed below: Islay -
Prince Albert's Greyhound, Eos, is shown to the right, facing left in profile. Inscribed below: - Eos
Inscribed lower left: VR from nature Sept: 19 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.

Eos was the favourite dog of Prince Albert. She accompanied him to England from the Prince's native Coburg when he married Queen Victoria in 1840. Islay was the Queen's Cairn Terrier. In her journal entry of 19 September 1840, Queen Victoria describes how she "drew "Eos's", & "Islay's" heads, & then etched them".

Scott-Elliott no. 7

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 4.