JOSEPH NOLLEKENS (1737-1823) BRITISH, 1810 | Bust of William Pitt the Younger (1759-1806)

Christie's, South Kensington, 9 April 2003;
private collection, United Kingdom

Overall the condition of the marble is good, with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There is minor natural veining to the marble consistent with the material, in particular to the reverse by the signature. The tip of the nose is restored and there is a slightly open vein. There are areas of orange colouration to the marble, in particular to the socle, but also to a lesser extent to the shoulders and forehead. There are some residues, possibly from cleaning, in the folds of drapery. There are varying degrees of wear to the surface with particular wear to the hair, which may indicate that the marble was in a damp environment for part of its life. The orange colour could be related to this. There are a few minor chips and abrasions and there are some minor scratch marks to the reverse below the shoulders.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

'Oh my country! How I leave my country!..." These were the final words of William Pitt, the Younger, who died on 23 January 1806 aged 46. He had been British Prime Minister for nearly half of his life and had guided the nation through the most perilous years of the Napoleonic Wars. The unceasing strain of these years (not helped by copious quantities of port) had left him utterly exhausted, and contemporaries who saw him in his final weeks describe a frail, worn-out man with lifeless eyes and a hollow voice. Whilst Nelson's victory at Trafalgar had removed the immediate threat of invasion, Napoleon's comprehensive triumph at the Battle of Austerlitz had left him master of Europe and destroyed the coalition of allies that had cost Pitt years of delicate negotiation to bring together. It was generally accepted that news of Austerlitz was Pitt's death blow.

Nollekens' bust of Pitt, Britain's youngest Prime Minister, is, ironically, one of his most celebrated models. Pitt and Nollekens had fallen out during the Premier's lifetime over an inscription on the sculptor's monument to three naval captains, William Bayne, William Blair and Lord Robert Manners. The monument was not unveiled until years after its completion because Pitt refused to supply the eulogy. Nollekens eventually appealed to the King for assistance, infuriating Pitt, who refused to sit for the sculptor. Nollekens' portrait of Pitt is therefore posthumous and is derived from the death mask. The prime version was carved in 1806 and is in the collection of the Earl and Countess of Rosebery at Dalmeny House, near Edinburgh. The present bust exhibits some particularly fine passages of carving in the hair.