WILLIAM CALLOW, O.W.S. (1812-1908)

TWO VIEWS OF SCHLOSS REINHARDSBRUNN
Both signed with initials, titled & dated in pencil 1863
Watercolour
25 x 35 cm
 
 
 
 
In the wake of Prince Albert's death in 1862, William Callow wrote to the Duchess Augusta of Saxe-Coburg (a former pupil of his) to enquire if he might be able to visit the late Prince Consort's former seats in Germany, to produce a series of views in commemoration of the Prince.  His timing was fortuitious, as Queen Victoria had arrived in Germany at the same time, and he was invited to an audience where he discussed the project with the Queen. Callow noted in his diaries that Victoria had said to her cousin the Duchess, 'I remember Mr Callow perfectly', and that the Queen suggested the various sites he should visit to him and even went so far as to note them down on 'deep mourning-paper', as he spoke no German and was concerned that he should get their names right. In a touching note, Callow wrote 'These two pieces of notepaper I have always cherished in recollection of this very pleasing interview which I had with the Queen.' (1)
 
 
Reinhardsbrunn was Callow's first stop on this journey, and he was the one of the first artists to paint the recently-constructed house, built 'in the English style', which had been renovated by Albert's father Ernest I of Saxe-Coburg, together with the gardens, the latter of which were the first Romantic park in Thuringia. The house was among the sites which Queen Victoria also visited after her consort's death, knowing that Albert had held very fond memories of his childhood home. Indeed, Victoria had commissioned a set of photographs of Gotha to be given to Prince Albert as a birthday present on 26 August 1858. They were to accompany the set of Coburg photographs she had given him for his birthday the year before. According to the Queen's journal, Prince Albert was 'particularly delighted' with them.