Henry Fuseli was born in Switzerland but lived most of his life in Britain.

His distinctive paintings and drawings were in a highly romantic neo-classic idiom making him a powerful and influential figure. This outstanding bust of Fuseli was commissioned by Sir Thomas Lawrence from the young Royal Academician, Baily, as the second of four sculpted portraits of contemporary artists. Lawrence possessed one of the most important private collections of the Regency period. Baily's bust shows Fuseli in 1824, at the age of 83, a year before his death.

Provenance

Commissioned by Sir Thomas Lawrence in 1824. Bought by Hazlitt, Gooden and Fox Ltd from Sotheby's in November 1994.


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