Henry Cole
Bust
1867 (made)
1867 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an example of a Photosculpture, a technique which became popular in Paris in the 1860s, practised above all by François Willème (1830-1905). Simultaneous photographs were taken of the subject, and these were then used to create a three-dimensional work, often a portrait. This bust depicts the first Director of the South Kensington Museum (later the V&A), Henry Cole (1808-1882). His Diary for 1867 notes that he went for a sitting for a Photosculpture at the Photo Sculpture Gallery in Paris in September 1867. He also notes the bust was modelled by 'Lanzirotti'; this must have been the sculptor Antonio Giovanni Lanzirotti (1839-1921), who worked in Paris in the mid-19th century. The sculpture was complete by 12 November of that year, again according to Cole's Diary.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Henry Cole (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | The technique of Photosculpture involved simultaneous photographs being taken of the subject. These were then used to construct a three-dimensional form in clay, which might be cast in other materials to make several versions, although this is the only version known of the bust of Cole. The modelling of the clay for this bust was apparently carried out by Antonio Giovanni Lanzirotti (1839-1921) in Paris. Cole's Diary notes that he went to the Photosculpture Gallery in Paris to sit for his bust on Friday 20 September, Saturday 21 September, and on Tuesday 12 November 'to have bust completed.' |
| Brief description | Terracotta bust of Henry Cole. Photosculpture. This terracotta bust of Henry Cole was produced using the Photosculpture process, practised by François Willème in Paris. It is dated 1867. |
| Physical description | Henry Cole (1808-1882), the first Director of the South Kensington (later Victoria and Albert) Museum is portrayed in bust form with a beard around his jaw line. The bust is inscribed with his name 'HENRY COLE' and the date in Roman numerals MDCCCLXVII, on a cartouche at the front of the integral socle, and 'Photosculpture' on the side of the socle. It is painted red. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr Peter Saunders |
| Object history | The bust was presented to the Museum by Mr Peter Saunders. Mr Saunders said that it had been given to his family. who ran a photographic company, in 1950 by their cleaning lady. She had worked for houses in Northwood, Middlesex, HA6, and Mr Saunders surmised she had been given it by one of the owners of houses in that area. |
| Associations | |
| Summary | This is an example of a Photosculpture, a technique which became popular in Paris in the 1860s, practised above all by François Willème (1830-1905). Simultaneous photographs were taken of the subject, and these were then used to create a three-dimensional work, often a portrait. This bust depicts the first Director of the South Kensington Museum (later the V&A), Henry Cole (1808-1882). His Diary for 1867 notes that he went for a sitting for a Photosculpture at the Photo Sculpture Gallery in Paris in September 1867. He also notes the bust was modelled by 'Lanzirotti'; this must have been the sculptor Antonio Giovanni Lanzirotti (1839-1921), who worked in Paris in the mid-19th century. The sculpture was complete by 12 November of that year, again according to Cole's Diary. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.1-2014 |
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| Record created | January 22, 2014 |
| Record URL |
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