Bust, marble, of Charles II, by the French sculptor Honoré Pelle, French, made in Genoa, 1684

This large marble bust represents the King in the last years of his life. His face, framed by a large wig, is turned sharply towards his right side, looking forward with an air of tragic weariness. He is represented wearing armour and a lace cravat, with draperies billowing around him.

Given by Mr Henry Durlacher

Unfortunately nothing is known of the circumstances of the original commission; this version was completed only the year before the King died. Little is known of Pelle, who seems to have spent his working life in Genoa, perhaps after training in Rome. He almost certainly never came to England, and the bust was probably based upon a painting or an engraving after a painting. This sometimes happened when the subject could not sit for the artist, most famously when Charles I was sculpted by Bernini in Rome, the bust in that instance being based upon a painting sent over by the Court Painter Van Dyck.

Given by Mr Henry Durlacher.

Historical significance: Charles II is portrayed in a dramatic and animated fashion, his head turned to one side, an elaborate wig cascading down over his lace cravat and billowing drapery. Such grand Baroque images of monarchs and powerful aristocrats were more common in seventeenth century France than in England. This piece may have been inspired by Bernini, particularly works such as his bust of Louis XIV at Versailles.

It is likely that the bust was intended for an architectural setting. Another version of the bust, dated two years earlier, is set on a balcony in a courtyard at Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire.

Pelle is not known to have visited England and the bust was almost certainly executed, after a painting, in Genoa.

Object Type
This sculpture was almost certainly influenced by the similarly flamboyant portrait of Francesco d'Este by Bernini in Modena. Another version, dated 1682, is at Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire.

Subject Depicted
This over-life size bust, dated 1684, was probably inspired by an engraved or painted source. It may be based on a portrait of Charles II dating from about 1670, by the Dutch painter Simon Verelst.

People
Honoré‚ (Onorato) Pelle (active 1679-1994) is thought to have spent his early years in Marseilles, and is likely to have trained under the French sculptor and painter Pierre Puget (1620-1694). Pelle seems to have spent most of his working life in Genoa, where he undertook commissions for churches, including a silver statuette of St John the Baptist.

Charles II had spent much of his youth on the Continent, and favoured continental arists. Although it is not known how or why this bust was commissioned, it is clearly in the tradition of flamboyant and imposing portraits of monarchs, and would have unambiguously asserted the King's status.

239-1881