Achttien miniatuurportretten van leden van de Engelse koninklijke familie, in het midden koningin Victoria en prins Albert 1860 - 1865

This is an undated photographic print presenting eighteen miniature portraits of the English royal family, with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at its center. Created anonymously, the piece reflects the Victorian era's fascination with royalty and the rise of photography as a means of disseminating images. The arrangement of the portraits—oval vignettes carefully placed—speaks to the formal, hierarchical structure of the monarchy. Yet, the photographic medium hints at a shift towards a more accessible form of portraiture, diverging from traditional painted portraits exclusive to the elite. Consider the role of gender within this royal representation. Queen Victoria, a powerful female monarch, is juxtaposed with images of both male heirs and royal women defined by their marital status, such as the Duchess of Connaught. This contrast illuminates the complex interplay of power and domesticity that defined women's roles, even within the highest echelons of society. The print serves as both a family album and a political statement, navigating the intimate and public dimensions of royal identity.