Victorian albumen print cabinet card portrait of John Brown, Queen Victoria's famous ghillie

Victorian albumen print cabinet card bearing a monochrome photographic portrait of John Brown, Queen Victoria's famous ghillie, depicted in profile facing to dexter, inscribed beneath in sepia ink (probably by Queen Victoria herself) 'J. Brown. The Queen's truest friend 1883' [the year of his passing], image 14.5cm x 10.3cm, set beneath glass in a contemporary silver plated desk frame with plush-lined backing, 15.5cm x 11.5cm overall, housed in original blue plush and silk-lined hinged morocco case, 19cm x 14.5cm

John Brown (1826-1883) was a Scottish ghillie and a favourite servant of Queen Victoria due to his steadfast support after the death of Prince Albert in 1861. Queen Victoria was known to have given him numerous gifts as well as creating two medals for him, the Faithful Servant Medal and the Devoted Service Medal, both of which he is seen wearing in this portrait. After Brown's death in 1883, Queen Victoria commissioned a life-sized bronze commemorative statue at Balmoral by Edgar Boehm, which bore the inscription: "Friend more than Servant. Loyal. Truthful. Brave. Self less than Duty, even to the Grave". The Queen's deep connection to Brown is further evidenced by her specific instructions for her burial. She requested that a photograph of John Brown be placed in her left hand, along with a lock of his hair, concealed from public view by flowers.

For a comparable lot sold at auction, with similar inscription, the image ascribed to George Washington Wilson, Aberdeen, the case of matching form ascribed to Edwards & Jones, 161 Regent Street, London, see Dominic Winter, Cirencester, 15th June 2022, lot 208.