Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.13588

    Sculpture bust of Charles Darwin

    Date
    1898
    Sitter
    Charles Robert Darwin (1809 - 1882, British) , Naturalist
    Creator
    Horace Montford (1840 - 1919, British) , Sculptor
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (sculpture): 558mm
    width (sculpture): 555mm
    depth (sculpture): mm
    height (socle): 185mm
    diameter (socle): 252mm
    Subject
    Description
    Bust of Charles Darwin depicted in old age, bearded and wearing a heavy coat. On a round marble socle.

    Inscribed on the back 'H Montford Sc. 1898'.

    Charles Darwin was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1839, he was on the council from 1854-1856. He was awarded the Royal Medal in 1853 and the Copley Medal in 1864.
    Object history
    Presented to the Royal Society by Lord Bridges, 1959.

    The donation is recorded in the Royal Society’s Council Minutes: ‘Reported that the Officers had accepted the offer of Lord Bridges of a bust of Charles Darwin by H. Montford (1898). Resolved- that the action taken by the Officers be confirmed and thanks of the Society returned to Lord Bridges for this gift.’ Royal Society Minutes of Council, Printed, v.20 1957-1961, minute 20, meeting 18 June 1959, p.257.

    Cast and copies: Two copies made from the Royal Society’s bust for the British Museum (Natural History): one for the Origin of Species exhibition in 1981 and one in a focal exhibit at the entrance of the gallery in 1985.
    Associated place
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