Thomas Thornycroft (1815-1885), British, mid-19th century | Bust of a Princess

This beautiful marble bust relates to a similar bust of Medea by Thomas Thornycroft in the Royal Collection (Osborne House, inv. no. RCIN 41017). The Medea was executed in 1846 and gifted by Queen Victoria to Prince Albert on his birthday on 26 August 1846. Like the present bust, the Medea has a herm-like truncation with prominent breasts (though veiled in the present marble) and wearing a distinctive tiara. It is probable that the present bust similarly represents a figure from Greek literature or mythology, almost certainly a princess given the prominent inclusion of the diadem. The present bust shares the same idealised facial features and is similarly in excellent condition.

Thomas Thornycroft was born in Cheshire and went on to found a dynasty of sculptors in London. A pupil of John Francis, he was heavily influenced by travels to Italy in 1842 and exhibited frequently at the Royal Academy from 1836 to 1874. His most famous work is arguably the magnificent Queen Boadicea on Westminster Bridge, showing the warrior queen of the ancient Britons commanding a horse drawn chariot. His son, Hamo Thornycroft (1850-1925) was one of the leading figures in the New Sculpture movement which revolutionised British sculpture at the turn of the 20th century.