{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O312612"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O312612/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KB4596/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KB4596/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017KB4596","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O312612/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O312612","accessionNumber":"A.63-1926","objectType":"Bust","titles":[{"title":"Dr. Samuel Johnson","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This lead bust representing Dr. Samuel Johnson was probably made in the late 18th century England, after a clay bust executed by Nollekens in 1777. The production of this bust in lead, a relatively cheap material, implies that other versions might exist, but none is recorded, though four plaster versions and a terracotta version are known. The mahogany pedestal dates from the early 19th century.\r\n\r\nDr Johnson, the literary colossus of his time, is most renowed for the publication of his <font -u>Dictionary</font> in 1775. Johnson was a friend of the sculptor Nollekens, but hated sitting for his portrait.","physicalDescription":"Bust of Dr. Samuel Johnson in lead. The bust rests on a plinth fashioned to resemble a bound volume of Johnson's Rambler writings.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":"after a model by Joseph Nollekens he made in 1777"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lead","id":"AAT11022"},{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lead","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2017KB4596"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES383971"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES383971"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Bust","id":"AAT47457"}],[{"text":"Plinth","id":"AAT1749"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1777 to late 18th century","earliest":"1777-01-01","latest":"1799-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"52.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of bust","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'RAMBLER'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"inscribed on the pedestal"}],"objectHistory":"On loan to the Museum, together with its mahogany pedestal from the donor from 16 August 1915 immediately prior to that on loan to the Burlington Fine Arts Club. Bequeathed by Lt. Col. G.B. Croft Lyons in 1926.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Bust, lead, of Dr. Samuel Johnson, anonymous after a model by Joseph Nollekens he made in 1777, England, after 1777","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Wiles, R. M. The contemporary distribution of Johnson's Rambler. <font -u>Eighteenth century studies.</font> II, 2. p. 156"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bilbey, Diane and Trusted Marjorie. <font -u>British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum.</font> London, 2002. p. 107. cat. no. 147"},{"reference":{"text":"<i>Samuel Johnson, 1709-84: a bicentenary exhibition</i>, London, Arts Council of Great Britain, 1984","id":"AUTH357200"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"after a clay bust by Joseph Nollekens","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Johnson, Samuel (Dr)","id":"N1748"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.63-1926","A.63A-1926"],"accessionNumberNum":"63","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1926,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Bust Dr Samuel Johnson","Plinth for bust of Dr Johnson by Nollekens"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-13","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":false}}