The Bronze Bust of Alexander Pope by Louis Francois Roubiliac

 

Post in progress.

A Recent Acquisition by the Louvre.

Height: 0.48 m (with socle); Height: 0.38 m (without pedestal); Width: 0.23 m.

https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010538701

According to tradition, the bust comes from the Plowden - Wardlaw family, Craigie Castle (Ayrshire, Scotland); then by descent to Margaret Spurway (née Plowden-Wardlaw) and remained in the same family until -

Sold London, Sotheby's, July 6, 2007, lot 136; acquired at this sale by the English collector Manny Davidson (1931-2024) who was based in Monaco. 

Put up for sale in The Manny Davidson collection: A Life in Treasures and Benevolence, Paris, Sotheby's, November 5, 2025, lot 69 (unsold); acquired by private purchase by the Louvre Museum on decision of February 12, 2026.

I suspect that the turned Red Marble ? Socle is not original.

Although the fixing appears to be original.

To my eye the socle is a little too big for the bust.

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Images below from Sotheby's, Paris.

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/the-manny-davidson-collection-a-life-in-treasures-and-benevolence-evening-sale-pf2592/buste-dalexander-pope

 

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The images below were supplied to me by Sotheby's sculpture department in 2007.

Higher resolution than the official Louvre photographs and give much clearer indication of the very fine chiseling particularly of the hair.

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For the V and A Bronze Bust of Lord Chesterfield see -

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O127094/philip-dormer-stanhope-fourth-earl-bust-roubiliac-louis-francois/philip-dormer-stanhope-fourth-earl-bust-roubiliac-louis-fran%C3%A7ois/

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The Miton/ Peterborough Marble Bust of 1740.