Portrait of a man, perhaps William Hogarth
Bust
ca. 1750 (made)
ca. 1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This bust of an unidentified man (formerly thought to be the painter and engraver William Hogarth) is probably a portrait, although the sitter has not been identified. It may well have been intended to be displayed on the chimneypiece of a private house. As it is made in lead, a reproductive material, more than one version might have been cast, but this is the only one known. The artist, too, is unknown, although it was perhaps someone working in the circle of Henry Cheere (1703-1781) or that of his brother John. John Cheere (1709-1787) specialised in lead sculpture, and Henry Cheere seems to have produced a number of busts in this material. The sensitive modelling and informal costume (a soft cap, unbuttoned shirt and loose robe) would also support an attribution to an artist working in the orbit of the Cheere brothers.
Materials & Making
This bust was cast in lead, almost certainly from an original model in clay or terracotta (literally 'baked clay'). A mould would have been taken from the model, and used to reproduce it in lead. Lead being a relatively soft metal, the softness of the original modelling is clearly seen here. No other versions of this bust are known, although sometimes copies of portrait busts were made from the original version on a monument.
This bust of an unidentified man (formerly thought to be the painter and engraver William Hogarth) is probably a portrait, although the sitter has not been identified. It may well have been intended to be displayed on the chimneypiece of a private house. As it is made in lead, a reproductive material, more than one version might have been cast, but this is the only one known. The artist, too, is unknown, although it was perhaps someone working in the circle of Henry Cheere (1703-1781) or that of his brother John. John Cheere (1709-1787) specialised in lead sculpture, and Henry Cheere seems to have produced a number of busts in this material. The sensitive modelling and informal costume (a soft cap, unbuttoned shirt and loose robe) would also support an attribution to an artist working in the orbit of the Cheere brothers.
Materials & Making
This bust was cast in lead, almost certainly from an original model in clay or terracotta (literally 'baked clay'). A mould would have been taken from the model, and used to reproduce it in lead. Lead being a relatively soft metal, the softness of the original modelling is clearly seen here. No other versions of this bust are known, although sometimes copies of portrait busts were made from the original version on a monument.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Portrait of a man, perhaps William Hogarth (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Cast lead, with a stone base |
| Brief description | Bust, lead, portrait of a man, perhaps William Hogarth (1697-1764), perhaps by John Cheere, England, ca. 1750 |
| Physical description | Bust of William Hogarth with the head turned slightly to the right; he wears a turban-cap, embroidered coat and classical drapery. The bust is rounded at the base and mounted on a grey stone pedestal. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
By 1750 small busts of celebrated men were widely available for decorating interiors. Authors were especially popular for libraries. Multiple images were produced relatively cheaply in plaster or lead, usually reduced by 'figure-makers' from larger busts or figures made in terracotta or marble by well-known sculptors.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Lt. Col. G. B. Croft-Lyons FSA |
| Object history | Previously lent to the Museum by Lieut. Col. G.B. Croft Lyons from 1913 to 1926 (ex-loan no. 728). Bequeathed to the Museum by Lieut. Col. Croft Lyons in 1926. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This bust of an unidentified man (formerly thought to be the painter and engraver William Hogarth) is probably a portrait, although the sitter has not been identified. It may well have been intended to be displayed on the chimneypiece of a private house. As it is made in lead, a reproductive material, more than one version might have been cast, but this is the only one known. The artist, too, is unknown, although it was perhaps someone working in the circle of Henry Cheere (1703-1781) or that of his brother John. John Cheere (1709-1787) specialised in lead sculpture, and Henry Cheere seems to have produced a number of busts in this material. The sensitive modelling and informal costume (a soft cap, unbuttoned shirt and loose robe) would also support an attribution to an artist working in the orbit of the Cheere brothers. Materials & Making This bust was cast in lead, almost certainly from an original model in clay or terracotta (literally 'baked clay'). A mould would have been taken from the model, and used to reproduce it in lead. Lead being a relatively soft metal, the softness of the original modelling is clearly seen here. No other versions of this bust are known, although sometimes copies of portrait busts were made from the original version on a monument. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.62-1926 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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