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John Milton (1608-1674)
Maker: Rysbrack, John Michael
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'.
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.
Bought with the Anne J. Pertz Fund
Height: 60 cm
Height: 23 1/2 in
Method of acquisition: Bought (1932) by Hatherton, Lord
18th Century, second quarter#
George II
Production date:
AD 1738
: dated 1738
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.
Inscription present: signed and dated
Accession number: M.2-1932
Primary reference Number: 29741
External ID: CAM_CCF_M_2_1932
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
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The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "John Milton (1608-1674)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/29741 Accessed: 2024-11-02 08:28:26
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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=2024-11-02 08:28:26|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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