On loan

  • On display at King's College, Cambridge

Henry VII

Bust
ca. 1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Pietro Torrigiano (sculptor)
Place of origin
Britain (made)

The bust reproduces the upper part of the effigy on Torrigiano's monument of King Henry VII in Westminster Abbey, executed by Torrigiano between 1512 and 1519. On acquisition it was believed to be Torrigiano's work. It's history can be traced back to the middle of the 19th century. The base is more in the manner of Pugin than of any of Torregiano's contemporaries'.

Pietro Torrigiano (1472-1528) was an Italian sculptor also active in France, the Netherlands, Spain, and perhaps Portugal. He is well known for breaking Michelangelo's nose and he is credited with introducing the Italian Renaissance style to England.

Object details

Categories
Bronze
Royalty
Portraits
Object type
Bust
TitleHenry VII (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Bust, bronze, of King Henry VII, after Pietro Torrigiano's original effigy of Henry VII in Westminster Abbey, Britain, ca. 1850
Physical description
The King wears a ridged cap and hooded gown, with a tasselled cord round his neck. The square moulded base is decorated with ornaments in relief and recessed quatrefoils.
Dimensions
  • Height: 72.1cm
Object history
Was in the possession of Mr Henry Catt in 1862. Purchased by the Museum in London in 1862 for 150. Although the vendor is not recorded. it was probably purchased from Mr Henry Catt. On long term loan to Kings College, Cambridge from 1986. The bust is taken from the effigy to Henry VII in Westminster Abbey, executed by Torrigiano between 1512 and 1519.
Subject depicted
Henry (VII, King of England)
Summary
The bust reproduces the upper part of the effigy on Torrigiano's monument of King Henry VII in Westminster Abbey, executed by Torrigiano between 1512 and 1519. On acquisition it was believed to be Torrigiano's work. It's history can be traced back to the middle of the 19th century. The base is more in the manner of Pugin than of any of Torregiano's contemporaries'.

Pietro Torrigiano (1472-1528) was an Italian sculptor also active in France, the Netherlands, Spain, and perhaps Portugal. He is well known for breaking Michelangelo's nose and he is credited with introducing the Italian Renaissance style to England.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1862 In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 2
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. Text. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1932, pp. 71, 72
  • Arnoldi, Franceso Negri, 'Scultura Italiana al Victoria and Albert Museum I&II. In: Commentari, anno XXI, June-July 1970. Fascicoli, p. 217
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume II: Text. Sixteenth to Twentieth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, pp. 401, 402
  • 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. 443, 444, cat. no. 730
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
7916-1862

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Record createdOctober 16, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O169625/henry-vii-bust-pietro-torrigiano/
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