About the work
"Her Royal Highness The Princess Victoria" is a mezzotint created by James Bromley in 1834. This work was a reproduction of Sir George Hayter's 1833 oil sketch of Victoria. The mezzotint is 415 mm x 307 mm and depicts Queen Victoria prior to rise to power. Sir George Hayter was responsible for numerous royal portraits and was later given the title of "Portrait and Historical Painter" by Queen Victoria after her ascendance to the throne.
A Future Ruler
Before she was the Queen of England, she was Princess Alexandrina Victoria and she was raised by royalty from birth. Victoria was born May 1918 and died January 1901. When she was fourteen years old (in 1834), two different artists helped create a portrait of her. One, Sir George Hayter, was later appointed to an official position by Queen Victoria and created her official royal portrait. Three years later, William IV died and Victoria was crowned queen. As a royal, Victoria was often portrayed as she is here--beautiful, wealthy, intelligent and royal. Her opulent dress and lavish accessories served as a reminder of her status and wealth, while the globe and books serve as symbols of her intelligence and, later, of her extensive empire. With the addition of Windsor Castle in the background, there could be no denying the authority of this future ruler.
The Bronte's and the Queen
The father of the Bronte's often read the 'John Bull' paper. The fictional 'John Bull', who at the time was the British equivalent of America's 'Uncle Sam' character, was featured in a weekly newspaper. It was from reading this paper that the Bronte's developed a fierce loyalty to the crown.
When Princess Victoria became queen, Emily and Anne wrote the following in their shared journal: "Tabby in the kitchin – the Emprerors [sic] and Empresses of Gondal and Gaaldine preparing to depart from Gaaldine to Gondal for the coronation which will be on the 12th of July. Queen Victoria ascended the throne this month."
Several years later, the Bronte sisters had their respect to Victoria reciprocated, as not only did the queen read Charlotte's novel Jane Eyre and love it, but recorded her thoughts in her diary as well. The queen wrote "Finished 'Jane Eyre', which is really a wonderful book, very peculiar in parts, but so powerfully and admirably written, such a fine tone in it, such fine religious feeling, and such beautiful writings.
Passages from Jane Eyre
"'... my mission is to mortify in these girls the lists of the flesh; to teach them to clothe themselves with shame-facedness and sobriety, not with braided hair or costly apparel...'
...They ought to have come a little sooner to have heard his lecture on dress, for they were splendidly attired in velvet, silk, and furs." (127)
"I never can bear being dressed like a doll by Mr. Rochester, or sitting like a second Denae with the golden shower falling daily around me. I will write to Madeira the moment I get home." (354)
"'I hope that sigh is from the heart, and that you repent of ever having been the occasion of discomfort to your excellent benefactress.'
'Benefactress! Benefactress!' said I inwardly: 'They all call Mrs. Reed my benefactress; if so, a benefactress is a disagreeable thing.'"
"Yes, the future bridegroom, Mr. Rochester himself, exercised over his intended a careless surveillance: and it was from this sagacity--this guardedness of his--this perfect, clear consciousness of his fair one's defects--this obvious absence of passion in his sentiments towards her, that my ever torturing pain arose." (265)
Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think the Queen was so enthusiastic about Jane Eyre?
- Are there any connections between their lives?
2. Did you think Jane Eyre would shy away from or welcome the idea of her being in a portrait?
- Would it affect her character in any way? Would it give her confidence, make her question her sense of self-worth, etc.
3. How might Jane react to viewing this portrait of the Queen, given what we know of her reaction to authority figures?
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