Bust of Frederic, Lord Leighton, P.R.A., 1892

Sir Thomas Brock RA (1847 - 1922)

RA Collection: Art

Carl Jacobsen commissioned a marble replica of Leighton’s ‘Athlete struggling with a Python’ for the NY Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen. Frederick Pomeroy carved most of this sculpture in Brock’s studio under Leighton’s supervision. When it was complete Brock oversaw the transportation to Denmark.

On receiving the piece Jacobson wrote to Leighton saying that he wished to display portraits of those sculptors whose work was represented in the museum. Leighton recommended that Brock sculpt his bust and in due course a marble version of this work was sent to the Ny Carlsberg Glypothek.

This bust of Leighton contrasts with an earlier work (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1881) that Brock sculpted of Leighton when he was using Brock's studio. The earlier work is undraped and executed in a more restrained classical style while this later, more formal bust, depicts Leighton wearing his Doctor of Civil Law robes, an honour he was awarded from Oxford University in 1879, as well as the Royal Academy Presidential gold medal. Brock had some difficulty obtaining sittings from Leighton for this bust due to his travel commitments. It was over two years after his election in 1891 that Brock was finally able to present his Diploma work to the Royal Academy.