The Fitzwilliam Museum - University of Cambridge

Philippe-Laurent Roland
(1746–1816)
Self-portrait c. 1780–90
Terracotta bust on marble socle
H. overall 52.5 cm, bust 39.5 cm
M.6-2004
Purchased from
the Boscawen Fund
Active both before and after the French
Revolution, Roland produced a number
of portrait busts of members of his
family during the 1780s, the decade to
which it seems reasonable to assign this
bust, both stylistically and on the basis
of his apparent age. A marble after it is
now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
New York.
Unlike the marbles which derive from
them, terracottas have an immediacy
which contributes to their undoubted
appeal. Roland's self-portrait is no
exception, with its slightly less than
life-size features, and overall air of
confidence (entirely justified by his
handling of the medium). This bust is
an outstanding addition to the Museum's
fine collection of terracottas, which
includes works by the French sculptors
Houdon, Boizot, and Caffieri.
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Major Acquisitions