Benjamin Disraeli
Bust
ca. 1850 (made)
ca. 1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This plaster bust representing Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) is possibly made by William Behnens in England in ca. 1850.
The sitter Disraeli was an English novelist and politician and prime minister. He is recognised primarily for achievements in imperial and foreign affairs, especially with the 1878 conflict between Russia and Turkey relating the Bulgarians. This lead to the Congress of Berlin summoned by Prince Bismarck, where then a settlement was reached - largely due to Disraeli - to give the Bulgarians a qualified independence.
William Behnes (1774/5-1864) was the son of a Hanoverian pianoforte maker living in London. Behnes commenced studies at the Royal Academy. He probably began work as an independent sculptor around 1819. He was very successful and well respected for the execution of his busts. Behnes exhibited constantly at the Royal Academy between 1815 and 1863, but died almost destitute, having been declared bankrupt in 1861.
The sitter Disraeli was an English novelist and politician and prime minister. He is recognised primarily for achievements in imperial and foreign affairs, especially with the 1878 conflict between Russia and Turkey relating the Bulgarians. This lead to the Congress of Berlin summoned by Prince Bismarck, where then a settlement was reached - largely due to Disraeli - to give the Bulgarians a qualified independence.
William Behnes (1774/5-1864) was the son of a Hanoverian pianoforte maker living in London. Behnes commenced studies at the Royal Academy. He probably began work as an independent sculptor around 1819. He was very successful and well respected for the execution of his busts. Behnes exhibited constantly at the Royal Academy between 1815 and 1863, but died almost destitute, having been declared bankrupt in 1861.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Benjamin Disraeli (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Plaster |
| Brief description | Bust, plaster, of Benjamin Disraeli, possibly by William Behnes, England, ca. 1850 |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | There is no information available about the provenance of that piece, which until 2000 was recorded as an unregistered object in the museum. It may have been one of the four 'Plaster busts, &c' described as lent by 'the late W. Behnes, Esq. to the Museum prior to 1870. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This plaster bust representing Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) is possibly made by William Behnens in England in ca. 1850. The sitter Disraeli was an English novelist and politician and prime minister. He is recognised primarily for achievements in imperial and foreign affairs, especially with the 1878 conflict between Russia and Turkey relating the Bulgarians. This lead to the Congress of Berlin summoned by Prince Bismarck, where then a settlement was reached - largely due to Disraeli - to give the Bulgarians a qualified independence. William Behnes (1774/5-1864) was the son of a Hanoverian pianoforte maker living in London. Behnes commenced studies at the Royal Academy. He probably began work as an independent sculptor around 1819. He was very successful and well respected for the execution of his busts. Behnes exhibited constantly at the Royal Academy between 1815 and 1863, but died almost destitute, having been declared bankrupt in 1861. |
| Bibliographic reference | Bilbey, Diane and Trusted, Marjorie. British Sculpture 1470-2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, pp. 192, 3, cat.no. 273 |
| Other number | Lost.576 - Previous LOST number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.10-2000 |
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| Record created | June 9, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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