Princess of Wales 1860s

F. Deron, a photographer working in Brussels, produced this image of the Princess of Wales using the Albumen process sometime in the mid-19th century. In this period photography was becoming increasingly popular among the middle classes, who desired to have their own portraits made in emulation of the aristocracy. Royalty and celebrity were also becoming increasingly intertwined, and images such as this one served to reinforce the cultural status of both. Here the Princess is presented as both aloof and elegant. The cultural context of this image is rooted in the Victorian era's emphasis on social hierarchy and the cult of celebrity. Researching photographic studios in Brussels at this time, and looking further into the visual codes of royal portraiture, might give us a better understanding of how this image was intended to be received.