George II
Bust
1760 (made)
1760 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Although this bust is dated 1760, it is a late, probably workshop version of a bust Rysbrack executed in 1738. It is likely to have been produced to commemorate the King shortly after his death.
Rysbrack produced two busts of George II in 1738, one in terracotta and another in marble, which are both in the Royal Collection at Windsor.
Rysbrack (1694-1770) was born in Antwerp, and trained in the Netherlands, but spent his working life in Britain. He was one of the most important sculptors active in this country in the first half of the 18th century, and specialised in portrait busts and funerary monuments. Although he never visited Italy, many of his works are clearly indebted to classical archetypes. His terracotta models are particularly fine, and are often virtually finished pieces in their own right.
Rysbrack produced two busts of George II in 1738, one in terracotta and another in marble, which are both in the Royal Collection at Windsor.
Rysbrack (1694-1770) was born in Antwerp, and trained in the Netherlands, but spent his working life in Britain. He was one of the most important sculptors active in this country in the first half of the 18th century, and specialised in portrait busts and funerary monuments. Although he never visited Italy, many of his works are clearly indebted to classical archetypes. His terracotta models are particularly fine, and are often virtually finished pieces in their own right.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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| Title | George II (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Marble |
| Brief description | Bust, marble, George II, by the workshop of John Michael Rysbrack, England, 1760 |
| Physical description | Bust, marble. The head crowned with a laurel wreath is turned slightly to the right; the king wears fantastic armour with field marshal's scarf, the star of the garter and, on a ribbon round his neck, the jewel of the garter. The armour is ornamented with lion mask pauldrons and a medusa head. The bust is signed at the back with the initials M.R and dated 1760. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'M.R' (signed on the back) |
| Gallery label | John Michael Rysbrack (1694–1770)
Bust of George II (reigned 1727–60)
Signed and dated 1760
Rysbrack was born in Antwerp but spent most of his career in England where he became one of the leading sculptors. In 1738, King George II commissioned him to make a portrait bust, now in the Royal Collection. When the king died, Rysbrack, or more probably his workshop, produced the version of the bust you see here in commemoration.
London
Marble(2021) |
| Object history | Purchased for £105 from Alfred Spero. In the sale of the property of the late W.J. Broderip Esq., held by Messrs Christie & Manson, 8 King Street, St James, London, on 13 June 1859; it is not possible to confirm if the bust is identical with the present piece. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Although this bust is dated 1760, it is a late, probably workshop version of a bust Rysbrack executed in 1738. It is likely to have been produced to commemorate the King shortly after his death. Rysbrack produced two busts of George II in 1738, one in terracotta and another in marble, which are both in the Royal Collection at Windsor. Rysbrack (1694-1770) was born in Antwerp, and trained in the Netherlands, but spent his working life in Britain. He was one of the most important sculptors active in this country in the first half of the 18th century, and specialised in portrait busts and funerary monuments. Although he never visited Italy, many of his works are clearly indebted to classical archetypes. His terracotta models are particularly fine, and are often virtually finished pieces in their own right. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.10:1 to 3-1932 |
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| Record created | June 15, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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