Lot 320: William Behnes (1795-1864): A carved white marble bust of a gentleman

looking forward with furrowed brow, wearing a toga, on a waisted socle, signed to the reverse 'W Behnes Sculpr London', 75cm high

William Behnes (1795-1864) was an English sculptor brought up in Dublin. He entered the R.A. Schools in 1813, and began sculpting around 1819 after taking lessons from P F Chenu. One of his earliest sitters was Queen Victoria, and in 1837 he was appointed Sculptor In Ordinary to the Queen.