Beschreibung:

PRITCHETT, Robert Taylor (1828–1907). Album of Watercolour Views of Denmark and Norway. 1870. A fine collection of of watercolours dated June-July 1870, executed by Queen Victoria's favourite artist. Pritchett was the son of the head of the firm of Enfield gun makers, and entered his father's firm at an early age. He helped invent the Pritchett bullet for use in the Enfield Rifle, which brought Pritchett fame. However, with the abolition of the East India Company in 1858, Pritchett's firm lost its principal customer and he made a new career for himself as an artist. He travelled extensively both in Britain and abroad, and by 1868 had gained Queen Victoria's patronage. The current collection stems from a visit he made to Denmark and Norway in June and July 1870. That same year, the Prince of Wales bought two views of Denmark, probably from this trip. By 1872, the Queen was commissioning watercolours from Pritchett of various ceremonies, and he was used extensively to record royal events in the later years of her reign. Despite these royal commissions, Pritchett continued to travel: a further trip to Scandinavia in 1874-1875 resulted in his publication Gamle Norge (1878), and he illustrated twenty-four articles on Norway in the Art Journal in 1877-1878. 41 original watercolours, one 346 x 116mm, the others 120 x 165mm, mounted in a folio album (425 x 305mm). Contemporary green morocco over slightly bevelled wooden boards, covers panelled in blind, gilt edges (joints and corners rubbed, extremities lightly scuffed).