A pen and ink drawing showing the head of a dead stag. The stag is shown from behind with it's head resting on the ground. Inscribed lower right: Stag killed by Albert Sept: 27 - on Ripe Hill. VR del from nature Sept: 27 - 1852

Deer stalking was a favourite pastime of Prince Albert's, especially when staying at Balmoral. On 27 September 1852 the Prince Consort went stalking near Abergeldie. In her journal entry of that day, Queen Victoria describes how Albert "had killed a very fine stag, with the finest head...I sketched him hastily on our return, & he was exhibited by torchlight after dinner".

Verso: A pencil drawing by Edwin Landseer showing a doe. The doe is shown half-length, facing forward. Inscribed below: Sketched by Sir Ed Landseer Oct: 2 - 1852

Landseer stayed at Balmoral for a few days in early Octobger 1852 and was 'very encouraging' about the Queen's own drawings.
Text adapted from The Victorian Watercolours and Drawings in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen Vol. 1 by Delia Millar, London, 1995