Sir William Cusack Smith
Bust
1834 (made)
1834 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bust in wax depicts the first Baron Sir William Cusack Smith. It is thought to be the work of Edwin Lyon, a sculptor and modeller in wax who exhibited at the British Institution in 1827. The work is dated 1834, when the sculptor was in Dublin.
Wax portraits had become popular during the 18th century in Britain, but some artists continued the tradition in this material during the early 19th century, especially before the invention of photography. They were often modelled from the life; a mould could be made from this initial model, from which further copies could be cast. The waxes were small and portable, and the nature of the material meant that they were extremely naturalistic. Sometimes they were coloured, and extra items added, such as textiles, seed pearls or coloured glass, to increase the life-like appearance of the portrayal.
Wax portraits had become popular during the 18th century in Britain, but some artists continued the tradition in this material during the early 19th century, especially before the invention of photography. They were often modelled from the life; a mould could be made from this initial model, from which further copies could be cast. The waxes were small and portable, and the nature of the material meant that they were extremely naturalistic. Sometimes they were coloured, and extra items added, such as textiles, seed pearls or coloured glass, to increase the life-like appearance of the portrayal.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Sir William Cusack Smith |
| Materials and techniques | Wax |
| Brief description | Wax, Irish, by Edwin Lyon (d.1836), 1834 |
| Physical description | Wax bust.Man with his head turned to the left and with his eyes looking slightly upwards. His mouth is slightly open and he wears classical style drapery. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'This wax bust of the Baron, / the 1st Sir William Cusack Smith / was executed by Edwin Lyon / in 1834. who wxhibited at the / British Institution in 1827. / He was in Dublin in 1834 and was elected an Associate of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1836'. (Hand written in 19th century hand on a label.) |
| Credit line | Rupert Gunnis Bequest |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This bust in wax depicts the first Baron Sir William Cusack Smith. It is thought to be the work of Edwin Lyon, a sculptor and modeller in wax who exhibited at the British Institution in 1827. The work is dated 1834, when the sculptor was in Dublin. Wax portraits had become popular during the 18th century in Britain, but some artists continued the tradition in this material during the early 19th century, especially before the invention of photography. They were often modelled from the life; a mould could be made from this initial model, from which further copies could be cast. The waxes were small and portable, and the nature of the material meant that they were extremely naturalistic. Sometimes they were coloured, and extra items added, such as textiles, seed pearls or coloured glass, to increase the life-like appearance of the portrayal. |
| Bibliographic reference | Pyke, E, A Bibliographical Dictionary of Wax Modellers, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1973. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.81:0-1965 |
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| Record created | March 16, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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