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John Milton (1608-1674): M.2-1932

An image of Bust

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Titles

John Milton (1608-1674)

Maker(s)

Maker: Rysbrack, John Michael

Entities

Categories

Description

Bust. Terracotta. The sitter is turned front, facing and looking slightly right. He is bare-headed, and his hair is falling long over the shoulders. He is clean-shaven. The sitter wears a doublet, with wide, falling-band collar, and drapery passing over the right shoulder, and under the left arm. The bust terminates in a low square base, inscribed on the front 'MILTON'.

Notes

History note: Formerly in the collection of Sir Edward Littleton, Bart., who bought it from Rysbrack for his new house, Teddesley Park, Staffordshire, 1757; it remained there until removed to London by Lord Hatherton, a collateral descendant, in 1931; exh. Messrs Spink's, London and bought through them from Lord Hatherton, 1932.

Legal notes

Bought with the Anne J. Pertz Fund

Measurements and weight

Height: 60 cm
Height: 23 1/2 in

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bought (1932) by Hatherton, Lord

Dating

18th Century, second quarter#
George II
Production date: AD 1738 : dated 1738

Note

Based in London from 1720, Antwerp-born Rysbrack made several busts of Milton, the first in 1728 for the ‘Temple of British Worthies’ at Stowe House, Buckinghamshire. There is also a marble example in Westminster Abbey. This terracotta bust was made in 1738 for the architect William Benson (1682–1754), as the model for a subsequent version in marble. Rysbrack kept the terracotta and sold it in 1757 to Sir Edward Littleton. It was displayed in Littleton’s newly-built family seat, Teddesley Hall, Staffordshire, together with the bust of Alexander Pope (M.3-1932).

Milton was a famous 17th-century English poet, famed for his epic Paradise Lost (1667). His portrait was frequently included in sculpted groups of writers, commissioned by 18th-century English aristocrats in imitation of ancient Greek and Roman practice.

The design is based directly on the ad vivum engraving by William Faithorne of 1670.

People, subjects and objects depicted

Project

  • Sculpture UK

Materials used in production

Terracotta

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: MILTON
  • Location: On front of base
  • Method of creation: Inscribed

Inscription present: signed and dated

  • Text: Mich: Rysbrack/1738
  • Location: At back
  • Type: Signature

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.2-1932
Primary reference Number: 29741
External ID: CAM_CCF_M_2_1932
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 30 May 2023 Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "John Milton (1608-1674)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/29741 Accessed: 2024-11-22 00:25:55

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/29741 |title=John Milton (1608-1674) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-22 00:25:55|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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