s Duke of Wellington - Hull Museums Collections

Duke of Wellington

Peter Turnerelli was an Irish sculptor whose family were of Italian origin. He moved to London in 1793 and studied sculpture at the Royal Academy where he exhibited in 1802. During a period in Italy, Turnerelli was greatly influenced by the famous sculptor, Antonio Canova. Between 1797–1800 Turnerelli taught modelling to the daughters of George III and subsequently became Sculptor-in-Ordinary to the Royal Family. He was asked to produce the Jubilee bust of George III in 1810, which he received eighty orders for copies. He had a large aristocratic clientele which included George III, the Duke of Wellington and Louis XVIII. Due to their popularity, copies of his original works were made by others. This bust appears to be a copy after an original Turnerelli now in the British Library.