Queen Victoria, 1838 - Public domain portrait drawing

Queen Victoria, 1838
Thomas Sully (American, 1783–1872)
Oil on canvas; 94 x 58 in. (238.8 x 147.3 cm)
Lent by Mrs. Arthur A. Houghton Jr. (L.1993.45)

In an ingenious take on traditional state portraiture, Sully chose the moment of the queen's literal and physical ascendance in order to convey her dignity and humanity, her femininity and strength. Ironically, she could not gracefully climb stairs. "It gives her pain to ascend or descend steps," Sully noted. "I fear [there is] something wrong in the knee."Queen Victoria, 1838