CA0676 Important Marble Portrait Bust by Matthew Noble

Important fine quality large carved white marble bust of the Reverend John Hodgson (1779–1845) by Matthew Noble (1817-1876) dated London 1870. Noble was the leading portrait sculptor to Royalty, Statesmen, the Great and the Good with examples displayed in Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathederal and Parliament Square. Following the Felling Colliery explosion in 1812 which killed 92 men and boys the Reverend John Hodgson preached a famous sermon demanding change. This led to the formation of the Sunderland committee and the invention of the Davy Safety Lamp. An identical bust of Hodgson can be seen in St. Pauls Church, Jarrow. Inscribed to the base are details of the commission of the piece and to the reverse 'Reverend John Hodgson' and M.Noble. Sc, London 1870'.  

Provenance: previously the property of a prominent West Country collector.

H 78cm x W 57.5cm x D 29cm