Mary Somerville in classical attire
Lawrence MacDonald (1799–1878)
Date: 1844
Medium: Marble
Donor: Major Fairfax-Lucy, 1961
Made in Rome in 1844, this work follows the classicising trend of sculpture at the time: the treatment was very smooth and subjects were depicted wearing classical garments including togas or laurel wreaths.
Jacob Epstein’s 1932 First Portrait of Louise near the dining hall shows how styles subsequently changed, with the sculptor openly showing his modelling process (this is a cast from a clay original).
About the artist
Originally a mason’s apprentice, after showing an aptitude for stone carving Lawrence Macdonald became an art student at the Trustees’ Academy, Edinburgh. With the help of friends he was able to visit Rome, where he set up a studio. He came back to Edinburgh in 1826 and was elected a member of the Scottish Academy, but he returned to Rome in 1832 and lived there until his death. In Rome he occupied a leading position as a sculptor, chiefly producing portrait busts, assisted by his brother and son. The Mary Somerville bust is inscribed as being made in Rome in 1844.
Further information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Macdonald
https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp07262/lawrence-macdonald