Probably Louis François Roubiliac

1 portrait

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Probably Louis François Roubiliac

attributed to Joseph Wilton
marble bust, circa 1761
31 1/8 in. x 24 in. (790 mm x 610 mm) overall
Given by the Art Fund, 1927
Primary Collection
NPG 2145

On display in the Entrance Hall on Floor 0 at the National Portrait Gallery

Sitterback to top

  • Louis François Roubiliac (1702-1762), Sculptor. Sitter associated with 5 portraits, Artist or producer associated with 13 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Joseph Wilton (1722-1803), Sculptor. Artist or producer associated with 7 portraits, Sitter in 9 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This bust is thought to show the popular 18th-century sculptor Roubiliac wearing the informal dress associated with 18th-century artists at work.

Linked publicationsback to top

Events of 1761back to top

Current affairs

George, Prince of Wales marries Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz at St James' Palace. He is crowned George III two weeks later.
Buckingham House, on the site of present-day Buckingham Palace, is purchased for the royal family.
Bridgewater canal, engineered by James Brindley, opens as Britain's first canal.




Art and science

Establishment of Matthew Boulton's toy factory, the Soho Manufactory, near Birmingham; considered the first modern factory in Britain.
Allan Ramsay becomes Painter to the King.

International

Seven Years' War: General Sir Eyre Coote captures Pondicherry from the French in India. A combined Prussian-Hanoverian-British force led by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick defeats a large French army at the Battle of Villinghausen. France and Spain sign the Pacte de Famille forming an alliance against Britain. Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder fails to garner support to declare war on Spain.

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David Bridgwater

25 August 2020, 15:55

There has long been doubts about this bust and it is time that the labeling is changed.

From the visual evidence this is not Roubiliac and I would like to suggest that it is a lost self portrait
bust of the sculptor Thomas Banks

see my blog post:

http://english18thcenturyportraitsculpture.blogspot.com/2019/01/bust-of-roubiliac-or-not.html