Alexandra of Denmark with her children
- Artist: Georg Emil Hansen
- Date: 1874
- Medium: print
- Dimensions: 5 3/8 in. x 4 1/4 in. (138 mm x 107 mm) image size
- Portrays: Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, Queen Alexandra, King George V, Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife, Maud, Queen of Norway, Princess Victoria of Wales
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This printing‑out paper print by Georg Emil Hansen, made in August 1874, shows Queen Alexandra of Denmark surrounded by her five children. The composition is relaxed: the princess sits at the center, holding a baby in one arm while another child leans forward; next to her the eldest son—future King George V—rests on his feet. Notice the paper texture and the subtle tonal contrast that give the image depth. Hansen’s portrait captures the informal side of royal life, something he repeated in over thirty family portraits. The print illustrates how photographs became a vehicle for intimate family scenes, popular among middle‑class women at the time.
See it in person
Alexandra of Denmark with her children is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
