Dated 4th October 1847, this stunning watercolour by Queen Victoria depicts an autumnal view from Prince Albert’s dressing room window at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. In her journal for the day Vitoria describes how the morning had been dull before the day became “very fine” (1). The family took a walk along the recently completed terrace, “which is beautiful now with all the beds full of geraniums & stocks, & the air so fragrant with the small of heliotropes” (2). After luncheon the Queen took time to create this magnificent watercolour of her surroundings, a hobby she often enjoyed while staying at her seaside home. Like anyone who visits the island, Victoria and her beloved Albert went for a drive of the scenic grounds, where they saw “the finest [sunset] I ever saw, the whole sky crimson, & shedding a red light over everything” (3).
Citation:
(1,2 & 3) RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) 4 October 1847 (PRINCESS BEATRICE’S COPIES) retrieved 10 January 2026. Royal Collection Trust / © King Charles III
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