Lot 159: * Munro (Alexander, 1825-1871). Head of Dante,

* Munro (Alexander, 1825-1871). Head of Dante, plaster cast of a sculptured portrait of Dante, 17.4 x 17.4cm (7 x 7ins) Lower edge with the following pencilledinscription: "Cast taken from the Dante head sculptured by the late Alexander Munro. This is written by his sister J Munroe." Munro was closely associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood from the start, although was never formally a member. He was born in 1825, the son of a stonemason employed on the Scottish estates of the Duke of Sutherland. His abilities attracted the attention of the Duchess, who helped with his education and in 1848 took him to London and introduced him to Charles Barry. Barry employed him on the sculptures for the Houses of Parliament, but he quickly tired of this subordinate position and set up on his own, sharing a studio with Arthur Hughes between 1852 and 1858. Success came quickly and between 1849 and 1870 Munro exhibited on average five or six works at every Royal Academy exhibition. Apart from a few statues and one or two subject pieces such as his famous Paolo and Francesca, these were mostly portrait busts or medallions, or groups of children. It has been suggested that Rossetti was responsible for suggesting Munro depict Paolo and Francesca, and sketches suggest that he was perhaps even responsible for the composition. (1)