| The Cousins | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Franz Xaver Winterhalter |
| Year | 1852 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, portrait painting |
| Dimensions | 66.7 cm× 50.8 cm(26.3 in× 20.0 in) |
| Location | Royal Collection |
The Cousins is an 1852 portrait painting by the German artist Franz Xaver Winterhalter. [1] [2] [3] It is a dual portrait featuring Queen Victoria and her first cousin Victoria, Duchess of Nemours. The Duchess was also a first cousin of Victoria's husband Prince Albert and had known him in childhood. In 1840 she had married the Duke of Nemours, the second son of Louis Philippe I, but following the fall of the July Monarchy during the Revolution of 1848 she had gone into exile in England. She lived at Claremont House in Surrey but frequently called on Victoria at Buckingham Palace in London. It was there that the secret sittings for the painting took place, which was then given to Albert as a birthday present that year. It was later hung in the Queen's bedroom at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Winterhalter was known for his portraits of royalty, and produced numerous paintings featuring the members of both the British and French royal families. Today the painting remains in the Royal Collection. [4]
