Portrait bust of Sir Walter Scott

It is ironic that the last portrait of the great Romantic writer Sir Walter Scott (1771-1852), was produced by Thorvaldsen, a Danish artist whose work epitomised the classical tradition to which Scott was so opposed. The two met during Scott's trip to Italy in the last year of his life. The meeting was said to be emotional but,silent as they did not share a common language. It is not known who commissioned the bust nor, whether it was made while Scott was still alive or, from sketches made by the sculptor which resulted in a posthumous portrait. This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.