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Lot 191Y

24 May 2006, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £1,260 inc. premium

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Gertrude Massey (British, 1868-1957)

An unfinished portrait of Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), wearing white dress, crown, pearl earrings, jewelled choker and the blue sash of the Order of the Garter.
Gilt-metal frame.
Oval, 101mm (4in) high

Footnotes

Massey got to know Queen Alexandra well during her visits to the Royal Palaces and dedicates an entire chapter of 'Kings, Commoners and Me' to her. She describes her as 'Gracious, so dignified and regal, and withal so human'. Her sittings were short and often not very convenient for Massey due to the lighting but Massey and the Queen struck up such a relationship that when the former was unwell, the Queen sent her own Physician to examine her and then continued to write to her whilst she was in the sanatorium.

Alexandra of Denmark married Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, known as "Bertie". Her style was very different from that of the senior British royals. She was devoted to her children and her servants and enjoyed activities such as dancing and ice skating. Bertie and Alix lived at Sandringham, and their marriage was in many ways a happy one despite his extra-marital affairs. As Queen (1901-10), and Queen Mother thereafter, she was greatly loved by the British people. She was associated with many charities, the most notable being Alexandra Rose Day. During the Boer War, she founded the Queen Alexandra's Nursing Corps.

Additional information