Victorian Bronze Portrait Bust of Lord John Elphinstone Gcb Gch (Scottish 1807-1860) by Matthew Noble

A magnificient Victorian bronze portait bust of John Elphinstone, 13th Lord Elphinstone and 1st Baron Elphinstone GCB GCH PC (23 June 1807 – 19 July 1860).

It is a work by Mathew Noble (1818-76), the leading Victorian portrait sculptor who specialised in figures and busts of British royalty and statesmen. His sculptures are displayed in locations such as Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Inns of Court and the Houses of Parliament.

His subject here, Lord Elphinstone, was a Scottish soldier, politician and colonial administrator. He was twice elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom as a Scottish Representative peer.

Having succeeded his father as Lord Elphinstone in May 1813, he entered the Royal Horse Guards in 1926. A lord in waiting to William IV from 1835 to 1837, the king made him a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order in 1836, in which year he was sworn of the privy council.

In 1837,he left the Guards on being appointed governor of Madras. It was said at the time that his appointment was made in order to dissipate a rumour that the young Queen Victoria had fallen in love with him. Upon looking at the portrait by Noble, we can understand why - Lord Elphinstone was a most handsome man. He wouldlater be appointed governor of Bombay.

Elphinstone was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in 1858, and on in 1859, on his return to England, he was created a peer of the United Kingdom as Baron Elphinstone of Elphinstone, Stirlingshire.

Our bronze measures 27 cm in height, and is titled and signed by Noble on the verso. The overall height including a green veined marble base is 42 cm.

Matthew Noble's work is rarely available on the market,

Despite extensive research, I have not found another example of this bust, neither in public collections, nor in litterature or auction records.

While it cannot be excluded that there is one in existance somewhere, this gorgeous Victorian artifact is very much one of a kind.

It has a pendant, depicting Viscount Palmerston, offered in a seperate listing. Please contact me if you are interested in both pieces, as a discount for a combined purchase is available.. It would be lovely if the two busts were to remain in the same collection.

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