FDA-Sc.43-2017
Parts
Object number
FDA-Sc.43-2017
Object type
Identification
Title
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
Description
Bust of a man in classical drapery, clean shaven, short hair
Comments
'Mr. Behnes having expressed his desire to present a bust executed by himself of the "great Lord Chatham," the offer has been accepted by the college authorities.'
[Reading Mercury, Saturday, 13 December 1845]
'The upper school-room of this college has just received an important and very interesting addition to its collection of busts of Eton worthies - viz., those of Lord Chatham and Lord Chancellor Camden. They are both executed by Mr. Behne, and are considered amongst the finest of his productions. The bust of Lord Chatham, which was presented to the college by the sculptor himeself, is from an original at Stowe, of which th Duke of Buckingham handsomely allowed a copy to be taken. Mr. Behnes has, or course, left the features of the face unaltered, but he has added his own drapery, and arranged the hair after his own taste, thus giving to the head a dignity and character which the original does not possess.'
[London Evening Standard, Tuesday, 27 July 1847]
'The busts in Upper School were added in the 1840's, in the reign of that fanatical protestant, Provost Hodgson... By far the largest group from any one sculptor is that by Behnes, and includes North, Pearson, Camden, Chatham, Howe, Hammond, Porson and, in the Head Master's Room, Newcastle... Most of his busts at Eton were, inevitably, done from pictures. Yet they are admirable: you need only look at the antique dignity of Chatham to agree... Chatham, the Great Commoner, in a bust based on the well known portrait attributed to Brampton, is, and rightly, very much the old Roman.'
['Eton Busts' by Oliver van Oss, Etoniana, No. 123, November 29, 1969, p.353-354]
[Reading Mercury, Saturday, 13 December 1845]
'The upper school-room of this college has just received an important and very interesting addition to its collection of busts of Eton worthies - viz., those of Lord Chatham and Lord Chancellor Camden. They are both executed by Mr. Behne, and are considered amongst the finest of his productions. The bust of Lord Chatham, which was presented to the college by the sculptor himeself, is from an original at Stowe, of which th Duke of Buckingham handsomely allowed a copy to be taken. Mr. Behnes has, or course, left the features of the face unaltered, but he has added his own drapery, and arranged the hair after his own taste, thus giving to the head a dignity and character which the original does not possess.'
[London Evening Standard, Tuesday, 27 July 1847]
'The busts in Upper School were added in the 1840's, in the reign of that fanatical protestant, Provost Hodgson... By far the largest group from any one sculptor is that by Behnes, and includes North, Pearson, Camden, Chatham, Howe, Hammond, Porson and, in the Head Master's Room, Newcastle... Most of his busts at Eton were, inevitably, done from pictures. Yet they are admirable: you need only look at the antique dignity of Chatham to agree... Chatham, the Great Commoner, in a bust based on the well known portrait attributed to Brampton, is, and rightly, very much the old Roman.'
['Eton Busts' by Oliver van Oss, Etoniana, No. 123, November 29, 1969, p.353-354]
Other number
FDA-A.143-2010
Description
Content (person)
Pitt, William, 1708 - 1778 (Sitter)
Dimension note
31½in. high
Inscription
Lettered on the wall sconce beneath the bust: 'CHATHAM'
Material
marble
Production
Person
Behnes, William, 1791 - 1864 (Sculptor)
Date
1847
History and association
Object history note
Provenance: Presented to Eton College by the artist in 1847
References
• Gunnis, R., Dictionary of British Scultpors 1660-1851 (p.47)
