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George Henry
George Henry

George Henry

Artist (Inverurie, Scotland, 1856 - 1938)
Sitter (Irvine, Scotland, 1858 - 1943)
Date1888
Mediumbronze on bronze plinth
ClassificationsSculptures
DimensionsOverall: Height: 36 cm, Width: 16 cm, Depth: 20 cm
Plinth Size: Height: 21.5 cm, Width: 13.5 cm, Depth: 14.8 cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1913.
CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG004666
About MeSculpting had come quite naturally to James Pittendrigh MacGillivray. His father had worked as a stonemason and, in 1868, MacGillivray was apprenticed in Edinburgh to William Brodie, one of Scotland's foremost sculptors.
In the 1870s, MacGillivray moved to Glasgow. At this time he could not afford to use professional sitters so he used friends as models for his early works. George Henry (1858-1943) was a fellow artist and close friend. The bust is smoothly finished, with simple powerful features and a thoughtful gaze. Produced in 1891, MacGillivray considered it important as 'one of the first things which drew notice to my portrait work' and helped him to receive important commissions throughout the 1890s.
More About Me
Early in his career Inverurie-born Macgillivray couldn't afford professional sitters and used friends (here fellow artist George Henry) as models