Catherine, Lady Stepney (d. 1845) as Cleopatra
Bust
ca. 1836 (made)
ca. 1836 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Lady Stepney was a novelist and London society hostess for writers and artists. Here she is depicted as Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt. The asp, which Cleopatra used to commit suicide, coils around her right arm. A letter to her from David Wilkie (1785-1841), dated 27 April 1836, records the installation of this bust at the Royal Academy. 'The bust of your Ladyship is placed on the right hand as you enter near the centre between the door and the window, Sir Francis Chantrey having taken as much care as he could of it. If the bust is adapted for that light, it is in other respects an excellent situation and on a level with the eye'. The bust was bequeathed to the Museum by a descendant of the sitter. A wax portrait of Lady Stepney, by the same artist, is also in the V&A.
It is made by Richard Cockle Lucas (1800-1883), who is mainly known as a sculptor in wax and ivory, but he also worked in glass, marble and bronze, as well as being a painter. Lucas began his career as a sculptor as an apprentice to his uncle, who worked as a cutler in Winchester, carving knife handles. He joined the Royal Academy Schools in 1828 and studied under Richard Westmacott.
It is made by Richard Cockle Lucas (1800-1883), who is mainly known as a sculptor in wax and ivory, but he also worked in glass, marble and bronze, as well as being a painter. Lucas began his career as a sculptor as an apprentice to his uncle, who worked as a cutler in Winchester, carving knife handles. He joined the Royal Academy Schools in 1828 and studied under Richard Westmacott.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Catherine, Lady Stepney (d. 1845) as Cleopatra (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Marble |
| Brief description | Bust, marble, of Lady Stepney, by Richard Cockle Lucas, English, ca. 1836 |
| Physical description | Marble bust of Lady Stepney as Cleopatra, wearing a low cut gown, with her hands crossed and a snake encircling her wrist. The sitter's head is turned to her left. Ringlets escape from below a cap. The eyeballs are blank. She wears a low cut gown. Her hands are crossed. A snake encircles her left wrist. She wears a ring on her fourth finger of the left hand |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Miss Dorothy Manners |
| Object history | Bequeathed by Dorothy Manners. (Given by Miss A. Toomer, Wayside, Bickwell Valley, Sidmouth, Devon in accordance with the wishes of the late Miss Dorothy Manners in 1964. At the donor's (Miss Toomer) request this object and A.9, 10 and 11-1964 are to be labelled as bequeathed by Miss Dorothy Manners. Miss Manners was a descendant of Lady Stepney.) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Lady Stepney was a novelist and London society hostess for writers and artists. Here she is depicted as Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt. The asp, which Cleopatra used to commit suicide, coils around her right arm. A letter to her from David Wilkie (1785-1841), dated 27 April 1836, records the installation of this bust at the Royal Academy. 'The bust of your Ladyship is placed on the right hand as you enter near the centre between the door and the window, Sir Francis Chantrey having taken as much care as he could of it. If the bust is adapted for that light, it is in other respects an excellent situation and on a level with the eye'. The bust was bequeathed to the Museum by a descendant of the sitter. A wax portrait of Lady Stepney, by the same artist, is also in the V&A. It is made by Richard Cockle Lucas (1800-1883), who is mainly known as a sculptor in wax and ivory, but he also worked in glass, marble and bronze, as well as being a painter. Lucas began his career as a sculptor as an apprentice to his uncle, who worked as a cutler in Winchester, carving knife handles. He joined the Royal Academy Schools in 1828 and studied under Richard Westmacott. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.8:1-1964 |
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| Record created | June 20, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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