A watercolour and bodycolour study of the architecture of the Ballroom in Buckingham Palace with a concert audience sketched in pencil in the foreground. Signed lower right: L Haghe.

The ballroom at Buckingham Palace was designed by Sir James Pennethorne and built by Thomas Cubitt during the first half of the 1850s. The interior decoration was supervised by Ludwig Gruner, and was inspired by Italian Renaissance design. The ballroom was inaugurated in May 1856. Another watercolour in the Royal Collection by Haghe - RCIN 919910 - depicts a ball held on 17 June of that year.

This watercolour may have been drawn at the State Concert held on 2 July 1856. Queen Victoria made a detailed record of the occasion in her journal: "The music was splendid, — most effective, & Mlle Wagner, Mme Novello, Gardoni, Weiss, & Formes sang beautifully. My Private Band, with the addition of several leading instrumentalists from the Royal Opera & Philharmonic, &c, played the orchestral parts & there was a Chorus of 60 voices from the Opera, Royal Academy of Music, & Sacred Harmonic Society. Mr Anderson conducted, & Mr Cusins presided at the organ. The "Conquering Hero" was particularly effective. & made one think of the old Duke & all our heroes, — many of whom were present. The "Walpurgisnacht" was beautiful. The Concert was in 2 parts."