Bust

National Portrait Gallery - Roubiliac

Inscription

Roubiliac

Site: National Portrait Gallery (18 memorials)

WC2, Charing Cross Road

This building, 1896, designed by Ewan Christian, has 18 busts contained in medallions around the top of the facades. Starting at the east end of Orange Street and reading clockwise:
Facing north up Charing Cross Road: Chantrey, Lawrence, Reynolds, Hogarth, Roubilliac, Kneller, Lely, Van Dyke, Holbein.
Around the corner, facing east: Walpole, Clarendon, Fuller.
Facing north beside the entrance: Lodge, Faithorne, Granger.
Facing east, above the entrance are represented the three men chiefly responsible for the Gallery's existence: MacAulay, Stanhope, Carlyle.

2019: The Guardian reported on plans to move the entrance to this museum from the east side of the building round to the north side, where the Irving statue is.

2023: Londonist reported that the north entrance is now open and boasts three sets of doors etched with artworks by Tracy Emin. These show faces of 45 women, not specific or identifiable figures but, as the artist is quoted: "it's up to the viewer to discern what they feel and what they see or who they see..." Londonist sees 'The Doors' as "a direct challenge to/balancing act with the slew of Portland stone busts carved into the building’s original façade, featuring 18 men .."

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
National Portrait Gallery - Roubiliac

Subjects commemorated i

Louis François Roubiliac

Sculptor. Born Lyon. Made his reputation in 1749 with the tomb of the Duke of...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
National Portrait Gallery - Roubiliac

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

Caxton Hall - head 1 - Milton

Caxton Hall - head 1 - Milton

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But look at head 8 too, that's also a candidate for Milton.

1 subject commemorated
Morley mosaics - KEW - Heather Rabbatts

Morley mosaics - KEW - Heather Rabbatts

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These 10 portrait mosaics are the result of a project by Morley College to celebrate the achievements of significant women who have lived...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Old Westminster Library - head 6 - Tennyson

Old Westminster Library - head 6 - Tennyson

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Tennyson died October 1892, the same year that this building was 'erected' according to the foundation stone, though above the entrance 1...

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193 Fleet Street - 5 - Michelangelo

193 Fleet Street - 5 - Michelangelo

EC4, Fleet Street, 193

Building erected in 1883 by George Attenborough for his jewellery and pawn-broking business, Attenborough and Sons. Architects: Archer an...

1 subject commemorated
Colonial Office - B19 - Edward I

Colonial Office - B19 - Edward I

SW1, Whitehall, Foreign Office

Statues Hither and Thither has been invaluable in identifying some of the busts and most of the statues. The statues are not labelled and...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators

Previously viewed

Sir William Goscombe John

Sir William Goscombe John

Born in Cardiff as William Goscombe John but he adopted Goscombe. He travelled across Europe and studied with Rodin. Worked in the "new sculpture" style. When he and his wife Marthe returned to the...

Person, Sculpture, Wales

4 memorials