CIRCLE OF MICHAEL RYSBRACK, CIRCA 1740

William I, surnamed The Conqueror, was the first of the series of busts of England's Kings and Queens commissioned for Richmond Palace by Queen Caroline (d.1737), consort of George II, and executed in terracotta by the sculptor Michael Rysbrack (d.1770). This lead bust seems likely to have derived from this uncompleted order for Bustos in Marble of all the Kings of England from William the Conqueror, which was reported in The Gentleman's Magazine, 30th June 1735. Unfortunately, probably due to the Queen's death, the series was never completed, and after a disastrous accident at Windsor Castle in 1906, only two of the eleven terracotta models which Rysbrack did finish survive (K. Eustace, loc. cit.). Stylistically, the broad facial features evident here may be compared to other documented works by Rysbrack, specifically the marble bust of King Alfred which was executed for Rysbrack's great patron, Henry Hoare, at the end of the artist's career (Webb, op. cit., p. 116, fig. 46). Significantly, both the Alfred and the William were inspired by engravings executed by George Vertue for the English translation of P. de Rapin-Thoyras', History of England (1725-31), vol. 2. The latter publication may,indeed, have inspired the Queen's commission.