Bust of Sir Robert Smirke
- Audio guide stop: 125
- Gallery: Room 1
- Maker: Thomas Campbell
- Date: 1845
- Object type: portrait bust
- Materials: marble
- Museum number: 1895,0210.1
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
Before you is the marble portrait bust of Sir Robert Smirke, created in 1845 by sculptor Thomas Campbell. The bust captures Sir Robert in a classical style, his head slightly turned to the left, wearing a robe that drapes naturally around his form. The smooth, polished surface highlights the sculptor’s fine attention to detail.
Thomas Campbell was known for his ability to capture the character of his subjects with both accuracy and emotion. This bust was gifted by Sir Robert’s son-in-law, Captain Lambert, in 1895. It was originally displayed in the Entrance Hall of the British Museum, where it has continued to serve as a quiet tribute to one of Britain’s most respected architects.
The material, marble, was carefully chosen for its quality and warm tone. The fine veining in the stone adds depth and texture to the piece, while the classical setting and elegant proportions reflect the artistic ideals of the time.
See it in person
Bust of Sir Robert Smirke is on display in Room 1 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 125, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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