This is a preparatory sketch for a full-length equestrian portrait of Queen Victoria commissioned by Christ’s Hospital. Grant was forced to revise the composition halfway through his sittings with the Queen when he discovered that it was too similar to an equestrian portrait of Queen Victoria which Landseer had begun in 1838. This sketch shows Grant’s new design, in the style of Sir Anthony Van Dyck. Given to Queen Victoria by Lady Grant after the artist’s death