A pupil of Sir Francis Chantrey and taking over the latter's studio on his death in 1841, Henry Weekes (d.1877) exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1828 until the year of his death, being elected an Associate in 1850 and a full member in 1862. The present bust of a negress was exhibited in 1859 (no. 1321) under the title An African Head, and in terms of it's subject matter followed the growing interest among mid-nineteenth century European sculptors and painters of portraying African and Asian races.