October Talk: Edmonia Lewis's 'Bust of Christ'

Join us for a fascinating talk on the rediscovery of Bust of Christ by Edmonia Lewis (1844–1907) - one of only two of her works in UK public collections.

Lewis, of African-American and Ojibwe heritage, was the first Black sculptor to gain international acclaim. Her patron, the 3rd Marquess of Bute, acquired the piece in the late 19th century but it remained unseen in storage for over 100 years before its re-display at Mount Stuart in 2021 and exhibition at Tate Britain in 2024.

Professor Susannah Thompson, Professor of Art History and Criticism at Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, will uncover the story of this rare sculpture, Lewis’s ties to Bute, and what its rediscovery means for the histories of art, patronage and representation.

Also check out other Arts events in Rothesay, Exhibitions in Rothesay.