Zeven medaillons met kinderen van Victoria van het Verenigd Koninkrijk en Albert van Saksen-Coburg en Gotha, tentoongesteld op de Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations van 1851 in Londen 1851

This photogravure by C.M. Ferrier & F. von Martens captures seven medallion portraits of the children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, displayed at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. The composition, with its circular medallions arranged against a dark background, evokes a sense of formal order and familial unity. The stark contrast between the light relief of the portraits and the enveloping darkness creates a striking visual effect. This interplay of light and shadow not only highlights the profiles of the royal children but also emphasizes the symbolic weight of representation. The medallions, with their classical reference, position the royal family within a historical lineage of power and prestige. The seriality of the portraits, each a slight variation on a theme, introduces a modern note. Think of semiotics, where each image functions as a sign, contributing to a larger narrative of monarchy, family, and empire. The work becomes not just a depiction of individuals but a construction of dynastic image. The image is both intimate and distant, reflecting the complexities of power and representation.