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Charles Clifford
Her Majesty the Queen. Photographed from Life by the late Mr. C. Clifford of Madrid.
1863, 17 April
Magazine page
Google Books
LL/36114
The Photographic News, Vol.VII, No.241, April 17, 1863, p.183.
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. Photographed from Life by the late Mr. C. Clifford of Madrid.
This is, in many respects, one of the most interesting portraits of the Queen ever published. It was photographed in the year 1861, by the late Mr. C. Clifford, an able English photographer, residing at Madrid, who was entrusted by the Queen of Spain with a photograph, as a present to the Queen of England, together with a request that Her British Majesty would send in return her portrait. Mr. Clifford then received Her Majesty's command to produce the present photograph. It is probable that Mr. Clifford was scarcely prepared for this honour ; he had, however, recourse to Mr. Ross for assistance, who furnished him with a suitable lens, and in the middle of November, Her Majesty standing some distance within the orangery, the only light reaching her being that passing through the open doors in front, the camera out on the terrace, he succeeded in obtaining a very good negative. The portrait gave Her Majesty and the Prince Consort so much satisfaction, that they gave Mr. Clifford permission to publish it; a step which has been delayed, however, until the passing of the new Copyright Act should protect the picture from piracy.
The size of the picture is a trifle under 12x10 on a mount 24x18. Her Majesty stands with folded arms, arrayed in semi-regal costume; the dress and train being of handsome black watered silk; she also wears a coronet of diamonds.
The photograph is, considering the circumstances under which it was produced, amazingly perfect. Something, perhaps, is left to desire in the matter of expression, and the background furnished by the interior of the room, having been stopped out, leaves this part of the picture less satisfactory than might have been desired. The picture is, nevertheless, the most imposing portrait of Her Majesty which has been published; the only photograph, indeed, which is suitable for framing, and will, doubtless, have a very large circulation.
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