Monday 9 September 2024

The Sculpture at Wilton House, Part 8 -The socles on the busts by Roubiliac at Wilton House.

 

Post under construction.

The socles on the busts by Roubiliac at Wilton House.







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Paul Whitehead (1710 - 74), 

Marble Bust.

West Wycombe Park.

attributed to Roubiliac by Mrs Esdaile.


A portrait by Gainsborough was engraved by Collyer in 1777 and by Rolls in 1821, when in the possession of a Mrs Morris. John Michael Williams exhibited a painting of Whitehead at the Free Society of Artists in 1762 (1), but its whereabouts is also unknown. 

The sitter was sculpted by Roubiliac; two versions were in the sculptor's posthumous sale, 12-15 May, 1742, being lots 14 of the first day and 15 of the third day


A mould for these busts was also sold Lot 63 Day 2. to my knowledge no plaster bust of Paul Whitehead has yet been discovered.


 An engraving by an unknown artist depicts Whitehead in profile and reproduces the memorial verses on the urn containing his heart at West Wycombe Church.


Mrs Esdaile attributed a bust at West Wycombe to him which on the evidence of the socle alone this would appear fair.











Paul Whitehead?

Plaster Bust.

Possibly Roubiliac.

Anonymous Sale Christie's Lot 142 4 July 1989


https://photoarchive.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk/objects/406662/paul-whitehead



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Lord Ligonier.

Drawing by  Joseph Nollekens.

Harris Museum, Preston




The socle appears on the busts of Sir Andrew Fountaine at Wilton House, and on the Fountaine monument in Narford Church, Norfolk.