Lot Essay
The identity of the sitter and the authorship of this bust are both confirmed by the existence of a bronzed plaster on a smaller scale in the York Castle Museum, Kirkleatham (Friedman and Clifford, loc. cit.). Joseph Addison (1672-1719) was one of the great figures of 18th century London, an essayist and librettist, who contributed to The Tatler. He is best remembered as the founder and co-author (with Richard Steele) of The Spectator.