Study for "Queen Victoria" 1838

This is Sir George Hayter's pencil study for "Queen Victoria". Hayter was a society portrait painter, and this sketch likely precedes a more formal, finished portrait. Consider the significance of portraying a young woman, Victoria, as the head of the British Empire. Hayter made this drawing during a time of great social and political change; the Industrial Revolution was transforming Britain, and the Empire was expanding its reach across the globe. How does this image of a regal, youthful queen embody the complex intersections of gender, power, and colonial ambition inherent in Victorian England? The sketch format offers a glimpse into the artistic process of constructing and idealizing royal authority. Think about how Hayter’s portrait contributed to the construction of Victoria’s image, which continues to shape our understanding of monarchy and female leadership even today.