Marie of Baden by William Watson (1958, Royal coll.), Signed and dated 1858

Marie of baden, princess of leiningen (1834-1899) a copy after albert graefle’s (1807 – 89) marriage portrait of the princess dating from 1858. The original was in the collection of the prince of leiningen; a later copy (1859) by william corden is in the royal collection (405209). The queen judged her nephew’s new wife to be ‘most attractive’ (ra qvj: 20 october 1858), a view widely shared. Lord torrington, writing to john thaddeus delane the year after this miniature was painted, commented: ‘the princess leiningen who is here (her husband a captain in our navy) is a charming little woman in every sense. She makes me wish i was 20 and born with serene before my name’ (ra vic/c 24/6, 14 december 1860). Inscribed in ink on the reverse in queen victoria’s hand: marie / of baden / pcss leining. / after / grafle / 1858. Date: Signed and dated 1858.