Peter Turnerelli (1774-1839)
Matvei Ivanovich (1753-1818), when Count Platov signed & dated 1815
Marble | 69.0 x 50.0 x 30.0 cm (whole object) | RCIN 35416
-
Count Platov, a Russian general, commanded the ‘Don Cossack’ forces against the French during the Napoleonic wars. In 1815, the Prince of Wales (later King George IV), who had a passion for collecting busts of military heroes, commissioned Turnerelli to make a portrait bust of the general for the Second Room of the Armoury Attic Floor at Carlton House. A year earlier the Prince of Wales had already acquired for that room a portrait bust by Nollekens of the British military hero, John Manners, Marques of Granby, who had previously defeated the French during the Seven Years War. Count Platov is depicted with his head slightly tilted and turned to the left, wearing military uniform and displaying the Prussian orders of the Black and Red Eagles, the order of Maria Theresa, the St George and St Andrew of Russia, the badge of St John of Jerusalem and the portrait miniature of the Prince of Wales set in diamonds. The Prince of Wales also acquired for the same room at Carlton House two busts by Turnerelli, of the Duke of Wellington, and the German Field-Marshal Count Blucher. According to George IV’s accounts, Turnerelli charged £157.10 for this bust.
Provenance
Purchased by George IV in August 1815 for £157.10s.
-
Creator(s)
(nationality)Acquirer(s)
-
Medium and techniques
Marble
Measurements
69.0 x 50.0 x 30.0 cm (whole object)
Category
Object type(s)
Subject(s)