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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Her Majesty seated

1860
John J. Mayall

albumen paper carte de visite photograph on card (image: 8.3 cm x 5.6 cm, sheet: 10.4 cm x 6.2 cm)

Victoria (1819–1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death in 1901. The daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, and his wife, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield, she ascended the throne at eighteen on the death of her uncle, King William IV, all of her father’s older brothers having died without fathering any surviving legitimate children. She married her cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1840. They had nine children, and on Albert’s death in 1861 she entered a period of mourning that she maintained for the rest of her life. From 1876, she also used the title Empress of India. She gave her name to an era that has since become popularly thought of as conservative, prudish, and antithetical to women’s rights, yet Victoria presided over a vast empire and wielded significant influence on the policies of the many governments and colonies she was responsible for. Victoria and Queensland are just two of the numerous places around the world that are named for her. With a reign of 63 years and seven months, she held the record as history’s longest reigning female monarch, and as the longest reigning British monarch, until she was eclipsed for both titles by her great-great-granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II.

Purchased 2020

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

John J. Mayall (age 47 in 1860)

Queen Victoria (age 41 in 1860)

Subject professions

Government and leadership

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency