An engraving of the painting was donated to the Friends of the Lytham St Annes Art collection by Mr. S. Allen of Lytham St Annes in 1944.
We had previously thought it to be The Coronation of Edward VII, but now we know the painting to be Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Service, Westminster Abbey, 21 June 1887 which celebrated her 50th year as monarch.
The Queen commissioned the Scottish artist William Ewart Lockhart (1846-1900) and the work took three years to complete. Many of the attendees at the service posed in his studio so he could produce an accurate representation.
The artist included notable figures such as Sir Henry Irving, Ellen Terry and Robert Browning as well as portraits of himself and wife in the painting which is now in the Royal Collection.
If you wish to see more paintings from the Lytham St Annes Art Collection visit the on-line collection at lythamstannesartcollection.org.
Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Service at Westminster Abbey engraving