A bronze equestrian portrait of Queen Victoria by Thornycroft

A bronze equestrian portrait of Queen Victoria by Thornycroft, showing the queen wearing a habit with a sash and soft hat, riding side-saddle on a prancing Arab horse, inscribed ‘T. Thornycroft fecit London 1853’ and ‘Art Union of London 1853’.  English.

Footnote: This is a reduction of a large plaster model made for the Great Exhibition of 1851 by Thomas Thornycroft (1814-1885).  The full size statue was derived from an engraving of Queen Victoria reviewing the troops at Chobham which appeared in the Illustrated London News of 2nd July 1853.  It was produced with the approval of Queen Victoria, who arranged for her horse to be sent to the sculptor’s studio several times during the process.  Thornycroft also produced a pendant piece of Prince Albert erected at St George’s Plateau in Liverpool (where it remains today).  The Art Union of London commissioned the sculptor to produce 50 casts that were to be awarded as prizes, one of which was exhibited at a loan exhibition of sculpture and medals entitled ‘The Victorian Society British Sculpture 1850-1914, 1968’, no.163)’.