Portrait of Queen Victoria

Portrait of Queen Victoria

At the rear of the First Floor Lobby, we come to one of the Library’s most prized works of art, the Portrait of Queen Victoria. When George Peabody donated over $2 million to create housing for the poor of London, Queen Victoria wished to find a way to thank Peabody. Because he was an American citizen, she could not offer him knighthood. Instead, she commissioned court artist, Frederick Arnaud Tilt, to paint this miniature portrait on enamel. It arrived at the Library on Sept. 22, 1866, along with the Queen’s autographed letter, thanking Peabody for his generosity to the poor of London.

Below Victoria’s portrait are several of the awards Peabody received for the creation of the Southern Education Fund and for his gift to the poor of London.

Frederick Arnaud Tilt,

Local History Resource Center at the Peabody Institute Library

All copyrights belong the Peabody Institute Library