Charles I
Bust
17th century (made)
17th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The present bust (made ca. 1750-1850) is a later variant of the bronze bust of Charles I by Hubert Le Sueur given to the Bodleian Library Oxford by Archbishop Laud in 1636, and installed in an oval niche in the Library in 1641. It is likely that this bust as well as the version in the National Portrait Gallery were cast from a copy of the Bodleian original, although differences are apparent in the two later versions.
Hubert Le Sueur (ca. 1590 – after 1658) was the son of a master armourer in Paris, where he became established as a court artist. He was appointed as one of the sculptors to Louis XIII in January 1614. In 1625 he was sent to England to work at the court of Charles I, shortly after the King's marriage to Louis' sister, Henrietta Maria. The use of marble is unique for Le Sueur's portrait busts, as he specialised primarily in bronze. His impressive equestrian bronze portrait of Charles I now in Trafalgar Square is signed and dated 1633.
Hubert Le Sueur (ca. 1590 – after 1658) was the son of a master armourer in Paris, where he became established as a court artist. He was appointed as one of the sculptors to Louis XIII in January 1614. In 1625 he was sent to England to work at the court of Charles I, shortly after the King's marriage to Louis' sister, Henrietta Maria. The use of marble is unique for Le Sueur's portrait busts, as he specialised primarily in bronze. His impressive equestrian bronze portrait of Charles I now in Trafalgar Square is signed and dated 1633.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Charles I (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Bust, bronze, of King Charles I, unknown sculptor after Hubert Le Sueur, English, ca. 1750-1850 |
| Physical description | Bust, bronze. The king is represented full face with long curling hair falling on his left shoulder. He wears elaborately embossed armour with lion masks on the shoulders, and across his breast, a scarf. On a moulded bronze base. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | On loan to the Museum from W.L. Hildburgh F.S.A. from 31 May 1934 and subsequently offered as a gift by Dr W.L. Hildburgh in 1937 to celebrate the Coronation. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The present bust (made ca. 1750-1850) is a later variant of the bronze bust of Charles I by Hubert Le Sueur given to the Bodleian Library Oxford by Archbishop Laud in 1636, and installed in an oval niche in the Library in 1641. It is likely that this bust as well as the version in the National Portrait Gallery were cast from a copy of the Bodleian original, although differences are apparent in the two later versions. Hubert Le Sueur (ca. 1590 – after 1658) was the son of a master armourer in Paris, where he became established as a court artist. He was appointed as one of the sculptors to Louis XIII in January 1614. In 1625 he was sent to England to work at the court of Charles I, shortly after the King's marriage to Louis' sister, Henrietta Maria. The use of marble is unique for Le Sueur's portrait busts, as he specialised primarily in bronze. His impressive equestrian bronze portrait of Charles I now in Trafalgar Square is signed and dated 1633. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.12-1937 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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