A watercolour depicting Queen Victoria and Prince Albert standing on the right, while the dancers of the English, Scottish, French and Spanish quadrilles approach from the left and make obeisance. Signed and dated at bottom left: EUGENE LAMI 1851.

The third costume ball at the Palace evoked the reign of Charles II. Eugène Lami designed the Queen’s dress (see RCIN 74860). In this watercolour, the dancers of the specially-choreographed quadrilles approach the royal party in the Throne Room which, until the opening of the new Ballroom in 1856, was the rather cramped venue for such occasions.

Text adapted from Victoria & Albert: Art & Love, London, 2010

This watercolour was originally mounted in View Album V. 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.