Clarence House, St James's Palace: the garden front

A watercolour of a topographical exterior view of the garden front of Clarence House, St James's Palace. A number of garden implements can be seen on and near the lawn in the foreground. The watercolour is signed and dated at lower left: J Nash Junr 1861. The Duchess of Kent lived at Clarence House from the time of her daughter Queen Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert in 1840 until her death in March 1861. The porch seen in the drawing was brought from her previous residence, Ingestre House in Belgrave Square. The blinds are all shown drawn down in this watercolour, presumably in mourning for the Duchess. The house was occupied by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh after their marriage in 1874, and many alterations were made, including the building of an entrance portico.