Lot 118: An early Victorian sculpted white marble bust of a lady, dated 1839

Porteayed wearing a shawl around her head and shoulders, her nose with restorations, on a circular waisted socle, the truncation at the reverse inscribed RD WESTMACOTT 1839, weathered overall -- 271/2in. (16.7cm.) high NOTES Sir Richard Westmacott (1775-1856) studied in Rome in 1793 as a pupil of Antonio Canova, and in 1795 was admitted to the Florence Academy. On returning to England two years later, he established a studio and rapidly gained recognition. He become a member of the Royal Academy in 1805, succeeding Flaxman as professor of sculpture there in 1827. He was knighted ten years after that. His best known works are the statuary facade of the British Museum, and the large bronze of Achilleus in Hyde Park.