Doe and Hope

Description

The well sized three-quarter plaster bust of a lady or maiden, her hair in plats, modelled in the style of Clytie after the original Greco-Roman marble in the Townley collection in the British Museum, with wear and weathering commensurate with age, scantily draped and cupped in ruffled leaves on an integral oval socle base.

There are small chips and general wear to the top surface of the bust but she remains in good overall condition with no major losses or damages to speak of other than loss to one ear. This plaster version may have been a maquette for a final marble bust and we cannot find any marks to indicate who made her.

There is a Roman bust in the British Museum that was widely reproduced across europe and this bust was probably commissioned by a gentleman of his wife or lover in the style of Clytie.

Clytie was the daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, and after being deserted by her lover Apollo, she pined away and changed into a sunflower, which still turns its head towards the sun's course, as in pledge of her love.

A good country house portrait bust of pleasing decorator size.