A PLASTER BUST OF VULCAN

This bust is recorded in the 1792 inventory of Houghton, listed among the 'Marbles on the Table' in the Marble Hall: 'a Busto of Vulcan by do [Loccatelli] in composition'. Locatelli was originally from Verona, and is known to have worked in several centres in north Italy, principally for patrons on the Grand Tour. He moved to London some time around 1775 and would later work for Robert Adam - for whom he executed a chimneypiece at Harewood House - and Eleanor Coade. He left England in 1796 for France where he was eventually granted a pension by Napoleon. His plasters, such as the present, powerfully modelled bust, are to be found in many of the great country houses of England.

HOUGHTON HALL
Houghton was built for Sir Robert Walpole, Britain's first Prime Minister and later Earl of Orford. Building commenced in 1722 to designs now thought to be by James Gibbs. Colen Campbell was also involved and Thomas Ripley 'Chief Carpenter to the King's Works' supervised the building. In 1725 Walpole called in William Kent to decorate the interior and design furniture for the state rooms. Sir Robert's great collection of Old Masters now forms the core of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.