Bust of William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire

Joseph Nollekens (1737 - 1823)

Chiswick House

1812

William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, had the greatest influence on the appearance of Chiswick after Lord Burlington. He employed Samuel Lapidge (the former chief assistant to Capability Brown) to remodel the wilderness area west of the lake, and employed James Wyatt to demolish the Jacobean mansion and add wings to the north and south sides of the villa. These additions made the house a suitable setting for receptions hosted by his celebrated Duchess, the beauty Georgiana. The bust is an autograph version of the original at Chatsworth and was based on a lost death mask 'fleshed out' by reference to Reynolds' portrait of 1776.

• Medium: marble
• Dimensions: 70 cm
• Art Fund Grant: £2500 ( Total: £5,000)
• ArtFunded in: 1989
• Vendor: Heim Gallery

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