Joseph Nollekens (British, 1737-1823) A carved white marble bust of Lord George Augustus Henry Cavendish, later 1st Earl of Burlington of the 2nd Creation (1754-1834)The sitter looking slightly dexter, his shoulders clad in folded classical drapery, raised on a turned circular socle, 67cm high overall, 47cm wide, 23.5cm deep approximatelyFootnotes:ProvenanceProbably commissioned by the sitter Lord George Augustus Henry Cavendish, later 1st Earl of Burlington of the 2nd Creation (1754-1834), 1812;Then by descent to his son William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire (1808-1891);Then by descent to Peregrine Andrew Morny Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire (b. 1944), Chatsworth House, Derbyshire;Sold Sotheby's, Chatsworth: The Attic Sale, 5-7 October 2010, lot 364.Sothebys London, Old Master Sculpture & Works Of Art, 4th December 2018, lot 109. ExhibitedLondon, Royal Academy of Arts, 1813, no. 925.LiteratureDevonshire House Inventory, 1892, possibly p. 37, in the South Sitting Room 'Bust of Cavendish';Chatsworth Handlist of Paintings and Sculpture, nd, 28;A. Graves, The Royal Academy of Arts, A Complete Dictionary of Contributors and their work from its foundation in 1769 to 1904, London, 1905, p. 382;S. Upton, 'Private Chatsworth', The World of Interiors, October 2001, p. 248;I. Roscoe, E. Hardy and M. G. Sullivan, A Biographical Dictionary of Sculptors in Britain, 1660-1851, London, 2009, p. 909, no. 314George Cavendish was the third son of William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire and his wife the former Lady Charlotte Boyle, daughter of Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington. He later became Earl of Burlington of the second creation, a title held by his maternal forebears. Famously wealthy, Burlington purchased Burlington House from his nephew, the 6th Duke of Devonshire, and constructed London's Burlington Arcade along the west side of his residence, which itself was significantly elaborated.Joseph Nollekens was the foremost sculptor of the late Georgian period. Born into a family of Flemish painters and trained by Peter Scheemakers, he earned numerous awards from the Society of Arts, which enabled him to travel to Rome to study the works of Michelangelo and 'other greats' (see J. T. Smith, 'Nollekens and His Times, London, 1829'). In Rome, Nollekens collaborated with the celebrated Italian scuptor Bartolommeo Cavaceppi, restoring and replicating antiquities, and gained a strong reputation for his skill in modeling and carving marble. Upon his return to London in 1771, he was elected an associate of the Royal Academy and became a full Royal Academician the following year. Nollekens quickly established himself as a leading portraitist, with John Kenworthy-Browne noting that 'in portrait busts Nollekens scarcely had a rival.' His talent for capturing and animating likenesses made his works exceptionally popular in England (J. Kenworthy-Browne, 'Nollekens, Joseph (1737-1823), Sculptor', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography). His notable sitters included figures such as actor David Garrick, King George III, and many prominent individuals of the time.In addition to his acclaimed portrait busts, Nollekens produced significant mythological works, including pieces for Wentworth Woodhouse, now displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Nonetheless, he is best known for his portrait busts, as evidenced by the soaring prices, which rose from 50 guineas in 1771 to 150 guineas by the end of his career. The Romantic painter Henry Fuseli favourably remarked, 'in a bust he stands unrivalled... (but) for a group of figures, I should have recommended Flaxman; but for a bust, give me Nollekens' (Smith, op. cit. p. 233)This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * TP* VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.TP For auctions held in Scotland: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Constantine, Constantine House, North Caldeen Road, Coatbridge ML5 4EF, Scotland, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please refer to the catalogue for further information.For all other auctions: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
