James Roberts (c. 1800-67)
Frogmore House: The Duchess of Kent's Sitting Room dated Dec 1857
Watercolour and bodycolour | 25.6 x 38.5 cm (whole object) | RCIN 919734
James Roberts (c. 1800-67)
Frogmore House: The Duchess of Kent's Sitting Room dated Dec 1857
James Roberts (c. 1800-67)
Frogmore House: The Duchess of Kent's Sitting Room dated Dec 1857
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After the completion of the Green Pavilion, Queen Charlotte made further additions to Frogmore with Wyatt's help, including a drawing room together with domestic offices at the north end and a dining room and library at the south end of the house. These were completed c.1804. After the Queen's death in 1818, the house passed to her eldest unmarried daughter Augusta, who died in 1840. Thereafter Frogmore became the country residence of Queen Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent. The Duchess undertook a considerable amount of redecoration during the twenty years of her occupation.
In her sitting room, where she is shown in Roberts's view seated by the window with her dog Boz, she introduced a soft lilac colour to the walls and new red carpet and curtains. The furniture, however, seems mainly to have remained as it was in Princess Augusta's day, including the pair of pier glasses and gilt tables with painted tops between the windows. Shortly after this view was made, the Duchess changed the curtains to yellow silk and the carpet to one of brightly coloured Persian design. This second scheme was re-created when the room was restored in the late 1980s. The Duchess's picture hang consisted entirely of family portraits and these have been reinstated. Prominent on the wall behind her are images of her daughter and son-in-law by John Partridge.
Signed, dated and inscribed Js Roberts / Decr / 1857 / Frogmore
Catalogue entry from Royal Treasures, A Golden Jubilee Celebration, London 2002Provenance
Painted for the Duchess of Kent; by whom given to Queen Victoria, Christmas 1857
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Creator(s)
Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Watercolour and bodycolour
Measurements
25.6 x 38.5 cm (whole object)
Object type(s)
Subject(s)
Other number(s)
RL 19734