Bust of Philipe Dormer Stanhope

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The classical format of the portrait, showcasing the sitter without adornment, with shoulders left bare, and eyes deeply etched, may have been inspired by Lord Chesterfield himself, who in his renowned letters to his son consistently offered guidance on education and etiquette, frequently referencing Roman Antiquity as a guiding principle. In a letter to his son dated May 17, 1745, he expresses admiration for a bust of Cicero that has recently joined his library collection. The sculptor Louis François Roubiliac (1705-1762) was a leading figure among his peers, and his sculptures and monuments are among the most significant produced in Britain during the first half of the 18th century. Born in Lyons, he likely trained in Dresden before moving to Paris, but from 1730 onward, he established himself in London, with a brief visit to Rome in 1752 being the exception. Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London