The William Henry Fox Talbot Catalogue Raisonné

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Object within Schaaf no. 2618

Bust of Patroclus

Object details

Created: 8 Sep 1841

Image size: h 12.7cm x w 8.7cm

Object Type: Paper Negative-Camera

Physical description: Waxed; top edge 86mm wide; left edge 126mm high

Inscription: Pencil, verso, lower centre, "8 Sept. 1841"; trace of pencil rules, recto

Owner: National Gallery of Canada

Object owner number: 33533

Collection: Canadian Photography Institute

Supporting images

This object is part of Schaaf no. 2618

Bust of Patroclus

Keywords: Sculpture

This bust is one of the objects most photographed by Talbot and is a plaster copy of a marble bust which was excavated by the Scottish artist and archaeologist, Gavin Hamilton (1730-1798). The original marble, found at Hadrian’s villa in Tivoli in 1769, was later acquired by the British Museum in 1805, where at the time of writing it is on display (museum number 1805,0703.86 / Gallery 22).

Although the subject of the bust is not known for certain, many attempts or guesses have been made since its discovery, none of which have been proven for certain. Hence the generic descriptive title, “Head of a Homeric Hero: marble bearded head of a companion of Ulysses, probably from a group showing Ulysses and companions blinding Polyphemus”.

It is thought that the marble version of the bust dates from about 100-150 BC, and is itself thought to be a Roman copy of a Hellenistic original dating from of about 200 BC. Talbot’s plaster version is therefore part of a long line of copies. Alternatively, it could be seen as having an impressive pedigree.