Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, 9th Bt

Inscriptionback to top

Incised on the back of the sock: F. J. WILLIAMSON. Sc./ESHER./1873.

This portraitback to top

This is a companion to the bust of Lady Stirling-Maxwell (NPG 729). In a letter of 1 August 1884 (NPG archives), the artist wrote that the NPG busts were executed 'as studies for their busts during life'. In a second letter of 13 December 1884 (NPG archives), he wrote:

'They were modelled at Keir about 1876 or 1877 [sic] and Sir William commissioned me to execute them in marble, but he unfortunately died before they were both completed. When Sir William's bust was finished it was purchased by the late Mr William Stirling Crawford, and is now I believe in the possession of the Dowager Duchess of Montrose. The marble bust of Mrs Norton I never carried out, but the finished model is in my studio.'
A bronze version of the NPG type, with broader shoulders and a cloak, is in the Scottish NPG.

Provenanceback to top

The artist, presented by him, 1884.

Exhibitionsback to top

Possibly RA, 1873 (1439).


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

View all known portraits for Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, 9th Bt