(Potsdam 1828–1866 Berlin)
A View of Windsor Castle, signed, dated E. Rieck London 1858, label on the reverse “Riek, Windsor Castle”, inventory number 148 and stamp with crowned V (for Victoria) and an accompanying letter “For Victoria, on the day of our arrival in Berlin after our marriage, Berlin 8 February 1858, Friedrich Wilhelm...”, oil on canvas, 97 x 132 cm, framed

Provenance:
Collection of Victoria, Princess Royal (1840-1901), Schloss Friedrichshof, since 1858;
By inheritance to her daughter Victoria of Prussia, princess of Schaumburg-Lippe (1866-1929), Bonn;
Her sale, Auktionshaus Lempertz, Palais Schaumburg, Bonn, 12 October 1929, lot 1566;
Private collection, Germany, since 1929.

During the Victorian era, the castle reached its social peak with numerous invitations and celebrated guests. Originally built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, Windsor Castle survived sieges and wars through centuries, and became a symbol of the strength of the British Empire.

As queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha’s eldest child, princess Victoria (1840-1901) was born and raised in England before moving to Prussia with her husband. She received a complete education and spoke French, English and German fluently, which allowed her to develop and later express strong political opinions. After her wedding to future Emperor of Prussia Friedrich III, life at court was difficult for the princess due to the Anglophobic nature of the Prussian nobility and her attempts to impose her more liberal ideas did not agree with her conservative peers. Friedrich III was crowned emperor and king of Prussia in March 1888 but died 99 days later of laryngeal cancer; the brevity of his reign did not allow him to establish policies that would shift Prussia towards a more liberal constitutional monarchy.
Following her move to Prussia, Victoria corresponded extensively with her parents, documenting Prussian politics in her letters. Friedrich and Victoria had a close relationship, so much so that when he died, she became known as ‘Empress Friedrich’. As a token of his affection, the painting was a gift to princess Victoria from her husband after their wedding in 1858. Knowing of her attachment to England and of the difficulties she would face at the Prussian court, Friedrich chose as a gift a view of Windsor Castle, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s principal royal residence.