Black Presence at the Wallace Collection: Busts of a Man and Woman
Take a closer look at representations of Blackness at the Wallace Collection to uncover a range of complex and captivating narratives.
ReadThese are intricate seventeenth-century Italian busts showing a man and a woman. They are believed to represent Black people. Both the artist and the sitters’ identity are unknown.
Their expressions are dynamic and animated.
They appear to be naturalistic portrayals, with their sense of humanity brought to the forefront.
Unlike other European depictions of Black people during this period, they are devoid of elements of caricature.
Bust of a Man (17th Century) by UnknownThe Wallace Collection
They are comprised of various types of marble, adding both texture and dimension.
Historically, the use of such varied marble was intended to subvert typical colour combinations, evoking an image of the “exotic”.
Bust of a Man (17th Century) by UnknownThe Wallace Collection
Similarly, the use of black marble became part of this subversion, illustrating artistic attempts to experiment with the Black image.
However, it may also have formed part of a broader endeavor to play with contemporary ideas of black beauty.
Bust of a Woman (17th Century) by UnknownThe Wallace Collection
The use of dark marble held strong associations with the Goddess Venus and the beauty of the night.
Giovanni Pontano (1429-1503) wrote in a poem “What if I am dark, what if I am black (…) Night is black, shadows are dark, Venus is worshipped in the shadows of the night”.
A Young Archer (1639) by Govaert FlinckThe Wallace Collection
Continue exploring black presence at the Wallace Collection with The Young Archer, or learn more about Asante gold.
