Page:Woman in Art.djvu/334

WOMAN IN ART no heir, the Duchess of Kent, mother of the Princess Victoria, told the child, when she was but twelve years of age, that some day she might become Queen of England. Lifting her dimpled hand she said, "I will be good." Those words struck the keynote of Victoria as Queen and Empress. Later, when eighteen years of age, she was aroused from early morning slumber to receive the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Chamberlain, bringing their salutation to her as Queen of England, the dominant motive of her life sounded again, and she fell on her knees between them, saying, "I ask your prayers in my behalf." After presenting herself on the balcony to the cheering crowds before Kensington Palace, she returned to her mother, her eyes and voice overflowing with emotion requesting to be left alone and undisturbed for a time; the first few hours of her reign were spent in fervent prayers for herself and her people. Thus began a new era for England.

"A devoted mother gave the kingdom a devoted queen, eliciting the gratitude and respect of the nation, which commingles with the love and reverence the daughter gives her mother's memory. A part of her training was the development of that natural poise and dignity that has ever graced her Majesty, and the happy faculty of doing the right thing at the right time. She never ceased to be the queen, but was always the most charming, cheerful, unaffected queen in the world."

These words express the opinion of Lord Melbourn, Prime Minister at the beginning of the Victorian era; and for long years after he was succeeded by Peel, he was her friend and counsellor in political matters. Party factions soon learned that their queen was gifted with prudence and strong sense. Her coronation has been considered the most magnificent ceremonial that ever took place within the historic walls of Westminster Abbey.

Against the background of similar historic events, how beautiful, solemn, impressive, appeared the coronation of the young girl queen, sincere, pure-hearted, untainted with ambitions and vices of intriguing court life, taking the oath to protect the constitution and the nation! What had been merely a ceremonial with previous sovereigns assumed the solemnity of a patriarchal rite.

The American artist, Thomas Sully, was in England at the time, and the young queen graciously acceded to his request that she sit for her portrait in her coronation robes. The portrait was painted in Buckingham House before her coronation and finished May 15, 1838, and her coronation occurred the 28th of June following. Victoria's reign of sixty-two years of peace within 264