portrait bust
- Museum number
- 1819,0612.4
- Description
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Plaster portrait bust of Revd. Charles Burney the Younger (1757-1817) by Joseph Nollekens RA (1727-1823), head turned to left on circular waisted socle..
- Production date
- 1815 (?)
- Dimensions
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Height: 71.50 centimetres
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Width: 51.50 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
-
For the marble of this sitter see 1944,0704.2
-
Dawson 1999
Literature: Unpublished
Displayed: 1881, probably in the Print Room when drawn by Sir George Scharf;(1) 1930s, 'Department of Manuscripts, Students' Room' and 'Music Room' (P&D notebook, p. 134); C.1960, British and Medieval Antiquities (MLA slip catalogue); c.1980, Department of Manuscripts, Students' Room; 1998, transferred to the British Library.
For information about Charles Burney the Younger, see registration no. 1944,0704.2. For information about the sculptor, Joseph Nollekens, see registration no. 1944,0704.1.
Listed in the 'Left-Hand Back Room' at Nollekens' residence in Mortimer Street after his death amongst the Busts and Plaister [sic] was A Bust of Dr. Burney, and 1. Dr. Chas. Burney', both purchased by Deville for £1-13s.(2)
There is a plaster bust in St Paul's Church, Deptford, near Burney's wall monument, which is signed by Lewis Alexander Goblet, Nollekens' assistant, standing on a base inscribed '... presented by his son Rev. Charles Burney M.A.'(3)
The cream-coloured surface once had a greyish coating, possibly applied in the sculptor's studio. Several red-brown areas on the front at the upper left of the drapery are difficult to interpret.
Notes:
(1) There is a pencil drawing of the bust (with Barrow and Bewick) dated 17 February 1881 and captioned 'Busts, all the size of Life, in plaster & terracotta by Roubiliac & others at the British Museum' in Sir George Scharf s notebook, National Portrait Gallery, London ref. TSB XXVII, p. 51 (see fig. 16).
(2) Catalogue of the Whole of the Highly Valuable Collection of Antique and Modern Sculpture of the Late Joseph Nollekins, Esq, R.A. Dec...., Christie's on the premises in Mortimer Street, 3 July 1823. Dawson is much indebted to the archivist of Christie's for photocopies of the catalogue.
(3) A bust of the Revd Burney of the same date by the same artist is in Westminster Abbey; see Gunnis, 1953, p. 175.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Slight bruise to left shoulder, much of greyish coating on front missing.
- Acquisition date
- 1819
- Acquisition notes
- The donor was the sitter's son.
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1819,0612.4
- Additional IDs
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Miscellaneous number: OA.10542