Sir Alfred Gilbert RA

Sir Alfred Gilbert RA, MVO, DCL (1854-1934) A bronze bust of George Frederick Watts, signed in the bronze A Gilbert ARA Sc 17cm. high Literature Richard Dorment Alfred Gilbert, Yale page 93 plate 50 for the full size bronze, 1888 in the Tate collection Richard Dorment Alfred Gilbert Royal Academy of Arts 1986 catalogue, catalogue number 25 for the original cast. The bust of George Frederick Watts was commissioned by Mary Watts in a letter dated 1888. Watts, held in high professional esteem by Gilbert, sat some 18 times for the two foot high bust held in the Tate Gallery collection. The bust was also produced in this smaller version. Watts described the beauty of the realistic draped clothing which rebuffed the bathing-towel folds of modern sculpture. It is recorded that Sir Alfred Gilbert refused payment for the bust, and in return received a portrait of himself painted by Watts.