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1 of 253523 objects
Eugene-Louis Lami (1800-90)
Design for the Queen's costume at the Stuart Ball, 13 June 1851 c.1851
Pencil, watercolour and bodycolour | 18.0 cm (image) | RCIN 919903
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A watercolour drawing depicting Queen Victoria in the costume she wore for the Stuart ball held at Buckingham Palace on 13 June 1851. The figure has been cut out, presumably from another larger sheet of paper, and then laid down on the current sheet.
Queen Victoria's elaborate dress, decorated with lace and pearls, survives in the Royal Collection today (RCIN 74860). It was designed by the French artist Eugène Lami and this is probably the working drawing he made to be given to the dressmaker. Victoria was very pleased with her costume, writing in her journal on 13 June that 'our dresses ... were really beautiful & so correct. Dearest Albert looked so handsome in his, & his admirable wig made him look so young. Our dresses were most exactly carried out from Eugène Lami's designs.' The Stuart bal costumé was the third such held at Buckingham Palace by Victoria and Albert, and it evoked the reign of Charles II.
Provenance
Commissioned by Queen Victoria; given by Princess Alice, Duchess of Athlone, to Queen Mary for the Royal Library, 9 October 1937
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Creator(s)
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Medium and techniques
Pencil, watercolour and bodycolour
Measurements
18.0 cm (image)