Sarah Siddons
Bust
ca. 1790 (made)
ca. 1790 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Plaster bust of Sarah Siddons (1755-1831), self-portrait sculpture, ca.1790.
Sarah Siddons, née Kemble, was born into a touring company of actors led by her father Roger Kemble. She and her brother, John Philip Kemble (1757-1823), became the leading stars of their generation. Although Sarah’s debut on the London stage in 1775 was not a success, she was invited back to London after triumphant appearances at the Theatre Royal in Bath and became the talk of the town, much favoured by the royal family. She was admired in her private life for her virtue as a wife and mother, and on stage she was acclaimed for her performances in tragedy. Reynolds immortalised her as the tragic muse in his portrait of 1784. Shakespeare provided her with some of her greatest roles, notably Lady Macbeth, Hermione in The Winter’s Tale and Queen Katherine in Henry VIII.
Siddons adopted sculpture as a hobby. This plaster self-portrait dates from around 1790 when artists were looking to Ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration. It resembles a classical bust, except for the fashionable 18th century head-dress with a chin strap.
Sarah Siddons, née Kemble, was born into a touring company of actors led by her father Roger Kemble. She and her brother, John Philip Kemble (1757-1823), became the leading stars of their generation. Although Sarah’s debut on the London stage in 1775 was not a success, she was invited back to London after triumphant appearances at the Theatre Royal in Bath and became the talk of the town, much favoured by the royal family. She was admired in her private life for her virtue as a wife and mother, and on stage she was acclaimed for her performances in tragedy. Reynolds immortalised her as the tragic muse in his portrait of 1784. Shakespeare provided her with some of her greatest roles, notably Lady Macbeth, Hermione in The Winter’s Tale and Queen Katherine in Henry VIII.
Siddons adopted sculpture as a hobby. This plaster self-portrait dates from around 1790 when artists were looking to Ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration. It resembles a classical bust, except for the fashionable 18th century head-dress with a chin strap.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Sarah Siddons (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Plaster |
| Brief description | Plaster bust of Sarah Siddons (1755-1831), self-portrait sculpture, ca.1790 |
| Physical description | Plaster bust of a woman with curled hair, wearing an 18th century chin-strap headdress. On an integral plinth. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by the British Theatre Museum Association |
| Object history | Purchased by the British Theatre Museum Association in November 1970, with funding provided by the Radcliffe Trust. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Plaster bust of Sarah Siddons (1755-1831), self-portrait sculpture, ca.1790. Sarah Siddons, née Kemble, was born into a touring company of actors led by her father Roger Kemble. She and her brother, John Philip Kemble (1757-1823), became the leading stars of their generation. Although Sarah’s debut on the London stage in 1775 was not a success, she was invited back to London after triumphant appearances at the Theatre Royal in Bath and became the talk of the town, much favoured by the royal family. She was admired in her private life for her virtue as a wife and mother, and on stage she was acclaimed for her performances in tragedy. Reynolds immortalised her as the tragic muse in his portrait of 1784. Shakespeare provided her with some of her greatest roles, notably Lady Macbeth, Hermione in The Winter’s Tale and Queen Katherine in Henry VIII. Siddons adopted sculpture as a hobby. This plaster self-portrait dates from around 1790 when artists were looking to Ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration. It resembles a classical bust, except for the fashionable 18th century head-dress with a chin strap. |
| Other number | 1970/A/145 - BTMA accession number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.86-1978 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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