Figure 1.--The photographic record of the Royal Fmily provides a wonerful insight not only into the family, but also fashion trends. Unusually, Arthur is pictured bare-chested,with his head leaning on his right hand and his left arm resting on cushion in front of him. He does not seem that happy about it. The portrait was taken by Leonida Caldesi in 1857. We are nt sure if the idea for the portrait came from Caldesi or Arthur's parents. The pose was was surely how he was instructed. The expression more reflects Athur's attitude. The idea for the pose was apparntly to capture that of the the putti in Raphael's 'Sistine Madonna'. Click on the image to see Rafael's putti.

Queen Victoria began having children soon after marrying Albert and this happy event conicided with with the invention of photography in France. Thus we have an extrodinary visual record of the Brirish royal family. It would be the best illustrated family in history until the 20th century. Photography did not take off in Britain as it did in America, but the Royal Family was an exception. And not only is there a massive photographic record, but there are charming drawings and watercolors by Victoria herself and many masterful works by Winterhalter. Arthur arrved decade after photography began and thus we begin to see more than Daguerreotypes. Here we have a salt print. We thus know a great deal about how Prince Arthur was dressed from his earliest years. And we even have playful experiments like the 1857 portrait here is said to have tried to get the look of Rafael's putti. Arthur would have beem about 6-7 years old.

Created: 5:45 AM 2/27/2017
Last updated: 5:45 AM 2/27/2017