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William Smyth, MA (1765-1849): M.1-1851

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Current Location: In storage

Titles

William Smyth, MA (1765-1849)

Maker(s)

Sculptor: Baily, Edward Hodges

Entities

Categories

Description

Bust. White marble. Posthumous portrait bust of William Smyth, Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge, from 1807 to 1849.

Legal notes

Given to the University by a group of William Smyth's friends (Professor of Modern History, 1807-1849), to be placed in the Fitzwilliam Museum, 1851

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1851-09-29) by Friends of William Smyth

Dating

19th Century, Mid
Production date: AD 1851

Note

The bust was commissioned from Baily by a group of Smyth's friends to commemorate the late professor. Baily was the son of a ship’s carver and began his career as a modeller in wax. He spent seven years in John Flaxman’s studio, and was his favourite and most devoted pupil. Baily came to fame in 1818 with his statue, 'Eve at the Fountain', but his most famous work is the portrait of Lord Nelson atop Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square.

People, subjects and objects depicted

Project

  • Sculpture UK

Components of the work

Plinth Height 12.7 cm
Bust Height 60.9 cm

Materials used in production

White marble

Techniques used in production

Carving : White marble, carved

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: E.H. BAILY, R.A./Sculpt LONDON/1851
  • Location: On back
  • Method of creation: Inscribed

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.1-1851
Primary reference Number: 30853
External ID: CAM_CCF_M_1_1851

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 29 April 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "William Smyth, MA (1765-1849)" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/30853 Accessed: 2025-12-05 19:28:04

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/30853 |title=William Smyth, MA (1765-1849) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 19:28:04|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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