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FRANZ XAVER WINTERHALTER (1805-73)
Victoria, Princess Royal, and Princess Alice in eighteenth-century costume
dated 1850Watercolour and bodycolour over slight indications in pencil | 28.8 x 23.8 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 913335
As a surprise organised by Albert, the Princesses Victoria (known as Vicky) and Alice dressed up in these elaborate costumes and danced a minuet for their mother on her 31st birthday. Winterhalter was quickly commissioned to record their outfits. The Queen and Prince had danced the same minuet at a ball five years earlier.