King Leopold I of the Belgians (1790-1865), when Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
This is a copy of the 1817 original by Peter Turnerelli (1774-1839) which is held in the Royal Collection Trust.
This is one of a pair of ‘nuptial busts’ depicting Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, later King Leopold I of Belgium and his bride Princess Charlotte, daughter of George IV. They sat for the sculptor Peter Turnerelli on the morning of their wedding in 1816. Prince Leopold is depicted in classical style, with Roman warrior’s hair and uniform. The angel on the shoulder strap symbolises the messengers of God who gather the chosen ones in the Last Judgement.
Princess Charlotte was the heir of George IV but she died a year after her wedding in 1817. Turnerelli received several commissions from private individuals for copies of the busts following her death, a fact that displeased Prince Leopold.
Prince Leopold became King of Belgium in 1832 and was very influential in arranging the marriage of his niece Queen Victoria to his nephew Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
