Getty Museum

[Queen Victoria]

Date

1860s–1870s

Medium

Albumen silver print

Culture

British

Department

Photographs

Institution

Getty Museum

If you click on the full album page below, you will see an elaborately drawn architectural structure that integrates slightly trimmed carte-de-visite portraits of Queen Victoria (1819-1901); her husband, Prince Albert (1819-1861); their son Prince Edward (1841-1910); their daughter-in-law Princess Alexandra of Denmark (1844-1925); and their grandson Prince Victor Albert (186-1892). Victorian photocollagists were typically upper-class women who took their photographic materials primarily from _cartes-de-visite_. Patented by André Adolphe Eugène Disdéri in 1854, the _carte-de-visite_ was easily and inexpensively printed ([84.XD.1157.2179](https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/107JXY)). By the 1860s, _cartomania _ had taken hold. It became customary to exchange _cartes-de-visite_ when calling upon friends. These small studio portraits measure 3 ½ x 2 1/8 inches, about the size of a playing card. It is not known whether the artists removed the photographs from the thick cardstock on which they had been mounted or obtained unmounted prints from the photographer. People also collected cards of the royal family, actors, and military heroes. So, the same images of public figures might appear in multiple albums. A woman’s collection of portraits visually displayed her social circle and favorite celebrities. See two collages that feature Major-General Gordon ([84.XA.1252.9 ](https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/108ZW0)and [84.XA.1252.33](https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/108ZWX)) and one other collage featuring some of Queen Victoria’s children ([84.XA.1252.42](https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/109P78), [84.XA.1252.43](https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/109P79), [84.XA.1252.44](https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/109P7E), [84.XA.1252.45](https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/109P7B), [84.XA.1252.46](https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/109P7C), [84.XA.1252.47](https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/109P7D)). It is not known whether the queen, her family or Major-General Gordon were part of this album’s photocollagist’s circle since she is anonymous. Carolyn Peter, J. Paul Getty Museum, Department of Photographs, 2021 For more information about this album see the extended essay.

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