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1 of 253523 objects
Joseph Nash (1809-78)
Queen Victoria's Christmas Tree, Windsor Castle, 1845 signed 1845
Pencil, watercolour and bodycolour | 29.6 x 35.4 cm (whole object) | RCIN 919807
![Queen Victoria's Christmas Tree, Windsor Castle, 1845 Queen Victoria's Christmas Tree, Windsor Castle, 1845](https://col.rct.uk/sites/default/files/styles/rctr-scale-1300-500/public/collection-online/e/c/587630-1454078816.jpg?itok=6WDqvLYp)
Joseph Nash (1809-78)
Queen Victoria's Christmas Tree, Windsor Castle, 1845 signed 1845
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A watercolour depicting a topographical interior view of the Blue Closet, showing the Christmas tree in the centre flanked by tables surmounted by various objects d'arts, and Thomas Gainsborough's portraits of the children of George III and Queen Charlotte hanging on the walls.
In her journal entry of 24 December 1845, Queen Victoria wrote "At 6 Albert took me into the Blue Closet, where as usual my frosted tree stood & my presents were all arranged on a table. Amongst them was a most beautifully executed inkstand, with a stag in frosted silver, standing on Scotch stones ... & a beautiful little onyx Cup set in enamel and precious stones. Dearest Albert had so wonderfully thought out all his gifts." The Blue Closet was redecorated in 1860 and became the Queen's Audience Room.
Nash appears to have first worked for Victoria and Albert in 1844, when he was commissioned to record events from the visits of, first, the Emperor of Russia and then Louis-Philippe, King of the French. He painted a watercolour of the distribution of the bounty, which took place on New Year's Day 1846, presumably as part of the same commission as this one (see RCIN 919771).
This watercolour was originally mounted by Victoria and Albert in View Album III. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert compiled nine View Albums during their marriage. These albums contained watercolours and drawings documenting their life together and were arranged in chronological order. The albums were dismantled in the early twentieth century and rebound in new volumes both in a different arrangement and with additional items, but a written record of their original contents and arrangement still exists.Provenance
Commissioned by Victoria and Albert
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Medium and techniques
Pencil, watercolour and bodycolour
Measurements
29.6 x 35.4 cm (whole object)
Object type(s)
Other number(s)
RL 19807