Another impression of RCIN 816187. An etching showing five studies of Victoria, Princess Royal. In the central study she is shown full-length, facing right and holding a bunch of flowers in one hand. She has a basket of fruit at her feet. The study to the upper left is after RCIN 980024.q. The young princess is shown full-length, facing right and playing with a doll. The study to the upper right is after RCIN 980024.p. She is shown facing forward and is holding a toy in one hand. The study to the lower right is after RCIN 980024.r. Princess Victoria is shown standing on her tip-toes, reaching up to a bowl of fruit on a table to the left. The study to the lower left is after RCIN 980024.s. She is shown seated on the floor, facing left in profile and is playing with her overskirt.
Inscribed upper centre: Pussy
Inscribed lower centre: Aug: 26 – 1842. Claremont.
Inscribed lower left: VR. Del & scult.
Inscribed lower right: 7/1 1843.

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

Queen Victoria's first child Victoria, Princess Royal was born on 21 November 1840 and nicknamed Pussy by her parents. The nursery life of the growing brood of royal children offered the young queen a wealth of inspiration for her own painting, drawing and etching.

Scott-Elliott no. 49