Sculpture bust of James Watt
Date
1843
Sitter
James Watt (1736 - 1819, British) , Engineer
Creator
James Heffernan (1788 - 1847, Irish) , Sculptor
After
Francis Legatt Chantrey (1781 - 1841, British) , Sculptor
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (sculpture): 559mm
width (sculpture): 475mm
depth (sculpture): mm
height (socle): 115mm
diameter (socle): 230mm
width (sculpture): 475mm
depth (sculpture): mm
height (socle): 115mm
diameter (socle): 230mm
Subject
Description
Bust of James Watt with head turned to the right as viewed. In classical style with draped shoulders. On a round marble socle.
Inscribed on the back ‘JAMES WATT. Js HEFFERNAN AFTER SIR F. CHANTREY 1843’.
James Watt (1736-1819) was a British chemist and engineer, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1785.
Inscribed on the back ‘JAMES WATT. Js HEFFERNAN AFTER SIR F. CHANTREY 1843’.
James Watt (1736-1819) was a British chemist and engineer, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1785.
Object history
Provenance: presented by his son James Watt, 1843
The donation is recorded in the Royal Society’s Council Minutes: ‘MY DEAR LORD, -- Mr. Watt, of Aston Hall, has requested Mr. Hampden Turner and myself to present to the Royal Society a Bust of his late father, the celebrated James Watt, carefully and successfully copied from the original Bust by Sir Francis Chantrey, by Mr. James Hoffernan, who has been for many years chief assistant in Sir Francis Chantrey’s studio. I have the honour to be, My dear Lord, Your Lordship’s faithful and obedient Servant, Wm BLAKE. To the Marquess of Northampton. Resovled – That the President be requested to convey the thanks of the Society to Mr. Watt for his valuable present.’ Royal Society Minutes of Council, Printed, v.1 1832-1846, meeting 30 November 1843, p.434.
The donation is recorded in the Royal Society’s Council Minutes: ‘MY DEAR LORD, -- Mr. Watt, of Aston Hall, has requested Mr. Hampden Turner and myself to present to the Royal Society a Bust of his late father, the celebrated James Watt, carefully and successfully copied from the original Bust by Sir Francis Chantrey, by Mr. James Hoffernan, who has been for many years chief assistant in Sir Francis Chantrey’s studio. I have the honour to be, My dear Lord, Your Lordship’s faithful and obedient Servant, Wm BLAKE. To the Marquess of Northampton. Resovled – That the President be requested to convey the thanks of the Society to Mr. Watt for his valuable present.’ Royal Society Minutes of Council, Printed, v.1 1832-1846, meeting 30 November 1843, p.434.
Associated place