This bust was commissioned in Rome by the British collector Thomas Mansel Talbot (1747-1813) for £140. At the same time he commissioned a bust of himself (Museum no. A.41-1953). Pope Clement XIV (Lorenzo Ganganelli; 1705-1774) had a particularly friendly relationship with the British in Rome.
Hewetson (B. Kilkenny with birth date unclear; d. Rome 1798). He worked in Dublin before moving to Rome to live and work in 1765, where he remained for the rest of his life. He specialised in portrait busts of British visitors on the Grand Tour and established himself as one of the prominent British sculptors working in Rome at that time.
Physical description
Marble bust of Pope Clement XIV wearing a skull-cap and a cape tied in front with a knotted cord, is shown looking slightly to his right.
Place of Origin
Rome, Italy (made)
Date
1773 (made)
Artist/maker
Hewetson, Christopher, born 1731 - died 1798 (sculptors)
Dimensions
Height: 75 cm
Object history note
The version at Ammerdown (Lord Hylton's collection) sold at Christie's, London, 11th December, 1990, lot. 48. Purchased by the National Gallery of Scotland, inv, no. 2525.
Plaster version at Bassasno del Grappa, Museo Givio, traditionally ascribed to CANOVA.
Another marble version at Yale.
Beningbrough Hall version exhibited Treasure Houses of Britain, 1985.
Descriptive line
Bust, marble, Pope Clement XIV, by C. Hewetson, Irish (carved in Rome), 1773
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Bilbey, Diane and Trusted Marjorie. British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2002. pp. 90-91. cat. no. 123.
Cheke, M. The Cardinal de Bernis. 1958. p. 243.
Hodgkinson, T. Christopher Hewetwon, an Irish sculptor in Rome. The Walpole Society. 34, 1952. pp. 42-54.
Whinney, M. English Sculpture 1720-1830. London, 1971. p. 110.
de Breffny, B. Christopher Hewtson. Irish Arts Review. IV. part 3. 1986. p. 55. no. 4d.
Molesworth, H. D. Sculpture in England. Renaissance to early XIX century. London; NY; Toronto, 1951. p. 16. pl. XXXIX.
Ingamells, J., ed. A dIctionary of British and Irish travellers in Italy 1701-1800. New Haven, 1997. pp. 923-924.
Clifford, T. et. al. The Three Graces Antonio Canova. Catalogue of the exhibition held in National Gallery of Scotland. Edinburgh, 1995. p. 11.
Cf. Pavanello, G. L'Opera Completa del Canova. Milan, 1976. p. 135. no. 378.
Plaster version at Bassanodel Grappa, Museo Civio.
Cf. Jackson-Stops, G., ed. The treasure houses of Britain. Catalogue of the exhibition held at the National Gallery of Art, Washington. New Haven, 1985. p. 270. cat. no. 190.
Beningbrough Hall version
Cf. Bowron, E. P., Rishel, J. J. eds. Art in Rome in the eighteenth century. Philadelphia, 2000. p. 255. cat. no. 130.
Edinburgh version
Exhibition History
Irish Portraits, 1660-1860. (Ulster Museum 28/01/1970-09/03/1970)
Irish Portraits, 1660-1860. (National Portrait Gallery 30/10/1969-04/01/1970)
Irish Portraits, 1660-1860. (National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin 14/08/1969-14/10/1969)
Materials
Marble
Subjects depicted
Pope Clement XIV
Categories
Portraits; Sculpture
Collection code
SCP
