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Queen Victoria

Thomas Sully American
1838
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 767
This impressive coronation portrait of Alexandrina Victoria (1819–1901), young Queen Victoria, shown ascending the throne, is the highlight of Thomas Sully’s successful career. The artist established himself in Philadelphia as one of the finest portraitists in the country and created a vogue for full-length portraiture, especially through his highly engaging and flattering depictions of women. The commission to paint the young royal came from the Philadelphia chapter of the Society of the Sons of Saint George, a benevolent association committed to supporting English emigrants and their families. Sully accepted the Saint George commission, which took him to London, but did not complete the portrait until his return to Philadelphia, in the fall of 1838. The artist conceived of the collaboration in a series of sittings with the queen, during which he took sketches of her robes and figural positions he envisioned for the final work. Many of these studies are also in The Met’s collection.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Queen Victoria
  • Artist: Thomas Sully (American, Horncastle, Lincolnshire 1783–1872 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
  • Date: 1838
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 94 x 58 in. (238.8 x 147.3 cm)
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Brooke Russell Astor Bequest, Louis V. Bell Fund, Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Chilton Jr. and Anthony W. and Lulu C. Wang Gifts, and funds from various donors, in honor of Morrison H. Heckscher, 2021
  • Object Number: 2021.140
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

Audio

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4568. Queen Victoria

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Hints to Young Painters, and the Process of Portrait-Painting as Practiced by the Late Thomas Sully.
Thomas Sully
J. M. Stoddard & Company
1873
Portrait of a Lady, Thomas Sully American, Watercolor on ivory, American
Portrait of a Lady
Thomas Sully
ca. 1843
Mrs. Thomas Sully (Sarah Annis), Thomas Sully American, Watercolor on ivory, American
Mrs. Thomas Sully (Sarah Annis)
Thomas Sully
ca. 1802
Standing Draped Female Figure; Portrait of a Cleric; Half-length Portrait of a Man; Figures with Wagons and Horses (Napoleon Scene?) (from Sketchbook), Thomas Sully American, Ink, wash, on paper, American
Standing Draped Female Figure; Portrait of a Cleric; Half-length Portrait of a Man; Figures with Wagons and Horses (Napoleon Scene?) (from Sketchbook)
Thomas Sully
1810–20
Composition with Five Figures in Natural Setting, Two Male, Three Female, with a Lyre (Ponnassus?) (from Sketchbook), Thomas Sully American, Ink, wash, on paper, American
Composition with Five Figures in Natural Setting, Two Male, Three Female, with a Lyre (Ponnassus?) (from Sketchbook)
Thomas Sully
1810–20

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