Prince Albert played an integral role in the advancement of photography. Alongside Queen Victoria, Prince Albert’s support for the new medium was a cultural and social catalyst – furthering opportunities for creativity, experimentation, and the exchange of photographic knowledge. This photograph of Prince Albert, taken just two months before his death from typhoid is likely the last photograph taken of him. After his death the photograph was hugely popular with Mayall selling over 70,000 cartes de visite of this image.

The portrait was reproduced as a ‘highly finished steel engraving’ and included in the two volume series, Portrait Gallery of Eminent Men and Women (1872-1873).