Queen Victoria 19th century

This is a marble bust of Queen Victoria, made by Mary Grant, a British sculptor who lived during the Victorian era. Busts like these were a common way to memorialize and celebrate important figures, connecting with a long tradition of portrait sculpture from classical antiquity onward. Grant, as a woman sculptor, had to navigate a male-dominated art world. She successfully obtained royal commissions that allowed her to produce many sculptures of the Queen. The smooth finish and attention to detail in the crown and royal garments reflect Victorian society's emphasis on refinement, and the importance of social hierarchy, in which royalty played a central role. The bust thus offers insights into the social and institutional context of art production in nineteenth-century Britain, including how the visual arts helped to reinforce power structures. To understand more, we can delve into archival sources, exhibition records, and period publications that can further illuminate the meaning of such works of art.