Artworks: portrait busts
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Listed here are portrait busts in the collection of the Rothschild Archive. The provenance of the pieces is varied; most have been acquired by the Archive through gift and purchase. In 2022, the historic London buisness made a generous gift of art works, including several portrait busts (which had been displayed at the various New Court buildings for many years, and for which the Archive had de facto responsibility) to the Trustees of The Rothschild Archive. Most pieces are on display at New Court.
Busts of members of the French Rothschild family will be found in the Named Collections: the rue de Courcelles Collection, including a marble bust of Baron James de Rothschild (1792-1868) by Jean-Auguste Barre, 1869. (000/2163/3) and busts of Baron Elie de Rothschild (1917-2007). A bronze bust of the late Dame Miriam Rothschild (1908-2077) will be found in the Ashton Wold Collection (000/1513/2).
Note: there is no general public access to works on display.
Portrait plaques: Baron Carl Mayer von Rothschild (1788-1855) and Adelheid, Baroness Carl Mayer von Rothschild (1800-1853), c.1840
000/2215, 2 items
Two portrait plaques depicting Baron Carl Mayer von Rothschild (1788-1855), and his wife, Adelheid, Baroness Carl Mayer von Rothschild (née Hertz) (1800-1853). The two exquisitely carved circular marble portrait plaques in heavy gilded frames depict likenesses of Carl and Adelheid in profile relief. The artist is unknown and the pieces undated, but from the appearance of the sitters they are believed to date c.1840. Displayed at old New Court for many years, they appear in an inventory in the Archive of collections at Gunnersbury Park in 1917 (see 000/400), and it is likely that these pieces were in the collections of Charlotte, Baroness Lionel de Rothschild, either in her London town house, or Gunnersbury (from 1850 when Lionel inherited the Gunnersbury estate). They would have been a comforting reminder of her parents living across The Channel. Each plaque stands on a black metal stand, which appears to be contemporary with the plaques.
Portrait bust: Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836), c.1845
000/2673, 1 item
Portrait bust of Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836). A posthumous bust by William Milligan, (English, active 1845-1850). Signed William Milligan Sct. White marble. (70 cm high). This piece has been identified as being in the collection of Leopold de Rothschild (1845-1917) at Gunnersbury in 1917 (see 000/400/6).
Portrait bust: Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836), n.d.
000/2896, 1 item
Portrait bust of Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836). After William Milligan (English, active 1845-1850). Signed William Milligan Sct. Cast Marbled Resin. (70 cm high).
Portrait bust: Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836), c.1845
000/2679, 1 item
Portrait bust of Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836). After William Milligan (English, active 1845-1850). Signed William Milligan Sct. Cast Marbled Resin. 70 cm high. [Note this item is on permanant loan to Rothschild & Co., Manchester office].
Portrait sculpture of Salomon Mayer von Rothschild (1774-1855), c.1830
000/2040, 1 item
Marble portrait sculpture of Salomon Mayer von Rothschild (1774-1855) by Paul Joseph Raymond Gayrard. Salomon rests his hand on a railway map. Signed, 'Paul Gayrard'.
Portrait bust: Salomon Mayer von Rothschild (1774-1855), c.1850
000/2510, 1 item
Small bronze portrait bust of Salomon Mayer von Rothschild (1774-1855). This bust was for many years kept in the New Court office of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild (1931-2022). It remained at New Court when Sir Evelyn stood down as chairman of NMR in 2003.
Portrait busts: James Mayer Rothschild (1792-1868), n.d.
000/2672/1-2, 2 items
Two identical portrait busts of James Mayer de Rothschild (1792-1868). Unattributed artist. Unsigned. Cast Marbled Resin (66 cm high). Both are undated resin copies presumed of an unknown marble bust.
Portrait bust: Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (1808-1879), c.1850
000/1911/63, 1 item
Small marble bust of Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879), mounted on a modern plinth. English School, c.1850.
Portrait bust: Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (1808-1879), 1879
000/2894, 1 item
Portrait bust of Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879) by Richard C. Belt, (English, active 1875-1880). Signed And Dated: R.C. Belt Sc London 1879. White marble. (69 cm high).
Portrait statuette of Anthony de Rothschild (1810-1876), c.1860-c.1870
000/1558, 1 item
Statuette of Sir Anthony de Rothschild (1810-1876), terracotta or similar, perhaps a maquette for larger bust. Unmarked.
Portrait bust: Lionel Nathan de Rothschild (1808-1879), 1880
000/2001, 1 item
White marble portrait bust of Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879) by RC Belt, c.1880. Wearing frock coat and bow tie, Signed R C Belt and dated 1880. On a modern black composite plinth. Bust 17 cm high, Plinth, 15 cm high. Total height of item 32 cm.
Portrait bust: Amschel Mayer von Rothschild (1773-1855), 1998
000/2897, 1 item
Portrait bust of Amschel Mayer von Rothschild (1773-1855). A modern resin bust, based upon the 1836 painting of Amschel by Moritz Oppenheim. (70 cm high). This bust of Amschel Mayer is a modern facsimile, created by NMR/The Museum of London for the Bicentenary exhibition, The Life and Times of NMR, The Museum of London, 1998, as the exhibition wanted to feature a set of busts of the five Rothschild brothers, and no bust of Amschel was available.
Portrait bust: Mayer Amschel von Rothschild (1818-1874), c.1850
000/2898, 1 item
Portrait bust of Mayer Amschel von Rothschild ('Muffy') (1818-1874). Plaster bust painted to resemble terracotta. Unattributed artist. (72 cm high). This bust was in the collection at Mentmore Towers, Buckinghamshire, the country seat of Baron Mayer de Rothschild. It was one of three busts of Baron Mayer de Rothschild purchased by Sir Evelyn de Rothschild (1931-2022) in the Mentmore Sale of 1977, (Lots 3313 and 3314) for display in NMR offices. The location of the other two busts in unknown. [Note: this bust is badly damaged].