The Passing of Queen Victoria, inscribed, "An impression from memory of the 1st February 1901," by Wilfrid Ball, RBA, RE (1853-1917). This was the day before the state funeral. c. 1901. Watercolour illustrated in Hind 158. The property of Arthur R. Moro. Esq.
Ball must have been sketching in the vicinity when Queen Victoria's coffin was borne from Osborne House on the Isle of Wight across the Solent for burial at Frogmore Mausoleum at Windsor. The moment evidently impressed itself upon him, producing in retrospect this unique record of this part of the final journey. The yacht was the Royal Yacht Alberta," with a canopy over its deck, and as the Royal Naval Fleet was anchored along the Solent they fired their guns in salute as the yacht passed, creating the puffs of smoke seen along the bank here. Alongside them were German warships as well, under the command of Prince Henry of Prussia. The coffin remained on board that night, at the Royal Clarence Yard, Gosport, before moving on by train the next day (see Kendall 227-29). It must have been a very solemn and moving occasion.
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Bibliography
Hind, C. Lewis. "In Memoriam: Wilfrid Ball, Water-Colour Painter" The Studio: An Illustrated Magazine of Fine and Applied Art. Vol. 61 (Nos. 242-44, March-June 1917): 149-160. Internet Archive. Contributed by Robarts library, University of Toronto. Web. 11 September 2022.
Kendall, Paul. Queen Victoria: Her life and Legacy. Barnsley, S. Yorks. and Havertown, Philadelphia: Frontline Book (Pen and Sword), 2022.
Created 11 September 2022