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Photograph of a Sculpted Bust of a Woman showing pointing marks

Photographer: unknown

Photograph of a Sculpted Bust of a Woman showing pointing marks

Bose himself may have been responsible for the photography however he is known to have had his own portrait taken by the Edinburgh-based commercial…

Bose himself may have been responsible for the photography however he is known to have had his own portrait taken by the Edinburgh-based commercial photographer Drummond Young whilst another Edinburgh photographer Francis Caird Inglis recorded other of Bose's sculptural works and he may have engaged either of them to record this piece.

The piece depicts what appears to be an unfinished marble bust of a young woman with her hair tied up, seen front on, the overall surface covered in a series of small drilled holes, the head and neck appear to be carved in marble but set onto a rough block of plaster.

The small holes are pointing marks used to make accurate copies of sculptures with the use of a pointing machine.

The inscription suggests that this was executed for Percy Portsmouth RSA. Portsmouth was in charge of the modelling class at the Edinburgh School of Art and was appointed Head of Sculpture at Edinburgh College of Art on its opening in 1908. Bose studied under Portsmouth at both venues.