Winterhalter's Prince Albert

Picture analysis of “Prince Albert”

Description:

In the picture, we see Prince Albert. He is posing in what seems to be a bedroom. The picture was painted. Franz Xaver Winterhalter painted it in 1867. This all took place during the Victorian time. Prince Albert looks very powerful and rich. He also looks very proud.

Analysis:

The first thing we notice in the picture is the red silky blanket. The perspective is Worm’s eye. It was painted like this because this way he looks more powerful and important. The shades are dynamic and circular. The colors are very dark. Except in the middle where we have the strong red. We have the strong red in the middle because the painter wants us to notice Prince Albert. The red and gold colors are very symbolic. The red symbolizes the royal power of the British Empire. The gold symbolizes wealth and that England is a very powerful country with a lot of occupied land. Even though the picture is very circular, Prince Albert stands out because he is painted with vertical lines. The weather outside is very cloudy. This may illustrate the situation the British Empire was in. The different medals he is wearing is a symbol on his overall power. The picture is a form of propaganda. It shows a strong prince at a time where the people needed to believe in the British Empire. It is painted so it looks very realistic. Therefore are the colors very natural. The colours outside the window are very could, but inside with Prince Albert it looks like it is warm and cozy. Maybe it should symbolize that if you followed Prince Albert you would be save and in a warm place, but if you did not you would be outside in the cold.

INTERPRETATION:

The picture is painted so that people could see how powerful he was. If you follow Prince Albert, you would live in grate harmony and safety. This is greatly supported by the colours, lines and shapes, as descried above. Prince Albert was the one who wanted the picture to be painted, so he could show how he was Queen Victoria´s right hand. The modern person would not think the same about this picture, because the modern people cannot feel his power in the same way. The painting is painted so Prince Albert can impress the people.