Lot 152: Matthew Noble (English, 1818-1876): A carved ivory bust of the young Queen Victoria dated 1856

dated 1856
looking slightly to sinister, raised on a waisted cylindrical socle, signed to the reverse M NOBLE LONDON 1856,
chip to nose, 12cm high

Noble exhibited prolifically at the Royal Academy between 1845 and 1876. His first great success came when he won the commission to produce the Duke of Wellington monument in Manchester in 1856, beating off stiff competition from older, more experienced sculptors. The monument was received with great critical acclaim and helped him to win a further commissioned to design and produce the Albert Memorial of Manchester, which he completed between 1862 and 1865. He also produced numerous portraits of Queen Victoria, one of which was reproduced in Parian ware.

Literature: R. Gunnis Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851, The Abbey Library, London, page 275.
D. Bilbey & M. Trusted British Sculpture 1470-2000 A Concise Catalogue of the Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, V&A Publications, London, 2002, page 347.