William Roscoe

Inscriptionback to top

Lettered in relief capitals on plinth: ROSCOE.

This portraitback to top

The type, which was possibly reduced from Spence's bust exhibited Liverpool Academy 1813 (though he looks older than 60), was probably issued in an edition of half a dozen in about 1820; another copy is in the Athenaeum Club, London, and a bronze cast is in Walker Art Gallery (4157). Another bronze cast, in a private collection South Africa 1982, is incised: Published by Edward Plower/Modelled by Spence. An engraving by Thomson was published in The Imperial Magazine 1821. A slightly larger variant, dated 1827, with addition of toga and resting on a classical capital, is in the Athenaeum Library, Liverpool. A biscuit pottery bust published by Spence in 1829 is reproduced in Country Life, 21 July 1944, pp 110-11. Spence and John Gibson were friends and attracted Roscoe's attention in Liverpool at about the same time; there was possibly a certain amount of collaboration between the two sculptors over their respective bust and terracotta medallion of their patron.

Provenanceback to top

Given by Ernest Galinsky 1960. The gift was accompanied by a letter from Mr Galinsky expressing his thanks to this freedom-loving country for providing sanctuary to a Polish refugee.

Exhibitionsback to top

Spence exhibited a bust of Roscoe at Liverpool Academy 1813.

Reproductionsback to top

Stipple by Thomson 'From a Bust by Spence' published Henry Fisher 1821, in The Imperial Magazine.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Walker, Regency Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, 1985, 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.

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