Eleanor Watt (d. 1904)
Bust
1859-1861 (carved)
1859-1861 (carved)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Although this marble portrait bust is dated 1861, the sitter recorded in her will that it was 'done by Macdonald at Rome in the year 1859'. Mrs Watt's bequest to the Museum also included a number of Japanese bronzes, together with items of lacquer work, enamel and porcelain. The Museum wanted this bust too, for as 'a nucleus is being formed of portraits, busts, etc. of benefactors to the Museum . . . a place could be found for exhibiting them together.'
Lawrence Macdonald (1799-1878) was a Scottish sculptorwho trained in Edinburgh, but spent most of his adult life living and working in Rome. He exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy in London, and at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh. He also showed works at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Prince Albert was one of his patrons, and he executed ideal sculpture for Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
Lawrence Macdonald (1799-1878) was a Scottish sculptorwho trained in Edinburgh, but spent most of his adult life living and working in Rome. He exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy in London, and at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh. He also showed works at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Prince Albert was one of his patrons, and he executed ideal sculpture for Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Eleanor Watt (d. 1904) (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Marble |
Brief description | Bust, marble, representing Eleanor Watt, by Lawrence Macdonald, Scottish, Rome made, 1859-1861 |
Physical description | Middle-aged figure, the hair fastened loosely in a knot behind and bound with an ivy-wreath, the shoulders draped in classical fashion. On circular moulded base;. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | 'L.MACDONALD.FECIT.ROMÆ. 1861' (signed on the truncation at the back) |
Credit line | Bequeathed by Eleanor Watt |
Object history | Although the present piece is dated 1861, the sitter recorded in her will that it was 'done by Macdonald at Rome in the year 1859'. Mrs Watt's bequest to the Museum included a number of Japanese bronzes, together with items of lacquer work, enamel and porcelain. Documentation relating to its acquisition records that the bust was 'characteristic of the period...we would also like to have the bust, as a nucleus is being formed of portraits, busts, &c of benefactors to the Museum. Somewhere, in the new building, a place could be found for exhibiting them together'. |
Production | Begun 1859 |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | Although this marble portrait bust is dated 1861, the sitter recorded in her will that it was 'done by Macdonald at Rome in the year 1859'. Mrs Watt's bequest to the Museum also included a number of Japanese bronzes, together with items of lacquer work, enamel and porcelain. The Museum wanted this bust too, for as 'a nucleus is being formed of portraits, busts, etc. of benefactors to the Museum . . . a place could be found for exhibiting them together.' Lawrence Macdonald (1799-1878) was a Scottish sculptorwho trained in Edinburgh, but spent most of his adult life living and working in Rome. He exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy in London, and at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh. He also showed works at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Prince Albert was one of his patrons, and he executed ideal sculpture for Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | 252-1904 |
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Record created | January 13, 2003 |
Record URL |
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