Prince Albert by Matthew Noble

Prince Albert

Matthew Noble (c.1817-1876)

1865

Carrara marble on a polished red granite pedestal

Vestibule, Leeds Town Hall

The Headrow, Leeds

After Prince Albert's death Noble was commissioned to execute a statue of him to match the one of Queen Victoria already in the Town Hall's vestibule. In 1865, therefore, the Queen's statue was moved to the east apse, and the new statue was placed in the west apse opposite it, as a companion piece. The two figures (both 8' 6") make a good pair, but the later one seems rather more pedestrian — except that Albert seems to be showing off rather a surprising amount of bare leg to reveal his royal garter! This statue has sustained damage, too: some fingers are missing.

Related Material

  • Prince Albert (homepage)
  • Leeds Town Hall
  • Queen Victoria , in the opposite niche

    Photograph, caption and text by Jacqueline Banerjee, 2011.

    [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly and educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]