Bust of Queen Victoria - Richard Austin Artlett

A refined stipple engraving by Richard Austin Artlett, depicting a formal bust of Queen Victoria based on a sculpture by Joseph Durham.

This stipple engraving by Richard Austin Artlett depicts a formal bust of Queen Victoria. The work is based upon a sculpture by Joseph Durham. Artlett, a skilled engraver, captures the smooth, marble-like texture of the original bust through precise tonal gradations and delicate cross-hatching. The Queen is shown wearing a crown and a draped garment fastened with a rose, a motif frequently associated with her iconography during the mid-nineteenth century.

The composition is classical in its restraint. The subject is presented against a neutral background, allowing the viewer to focus on the facial features and the formal arrangement of the drapery. The plinth is inscribed with the name VICTORIA, providing a clear identification of the monarch. The engraving technique employed here demonstrates the high level of technical proficiency required for nineteenth-century reproductive printmaking, where the goal was to translate the three-dimensional qualities of stone into a two-dimensional medium.

Joseph Durham, the sculptor of the original bust, was well-regarded for his public monuments and portraiture during the Victorian era. This print serves as a record of that sculptural work, circulating the image of the monarch to a wider public audience. The print maintains a formal, dignified quality, consistent with the official portraiture of the period. The subtle shading around the base of the bust provides a sense of weight and presence, grounding the figure within the frame. This piece offers an insight into the methods used to disseminate royal imagery before the widespread adoption of photography, relying on the interpretative skill of the engraver to maintain the likeness and character of the sitter.