Distant View Of Osborne (1849)

Osborne House (1849) from the west shore of the River Medina by  George Brannon

The artist’s position when working on this study was fairly well up the western bank of the River Medina, half way between Cowes and Newport. The house appears to dominate the landscape in all directions. To the right we can see the super St Milfred’s Church Whippingham. It’s here that Queen Victoria and her family would often attend Sunday services.

During her reign, Prince Albert completely redesigned the church and latterly Queen Victoria made it into a shrine for Prince Henry of Battenberg. He was the husband of Princess Beatrice, who herself was the Queen’s ninth child and died at the young age of 38 as a result of malaria.

If you look out into the Solent to the left of the print you can observe a very busy seascape, totally filled with vessels of all sizes and shapes.  To the right of the large tree you can just make out what we think is the gothic looking East Cowes Castle built by John Nash.  (Demolished c1960)

• Distant View Of Osborne Circa 1849 – Brannon

• The Project Gutenberg eBook, Brannon’s Picture of The Isle of Wight, by George Brannon