Bust, Edward Forbes
Date made: 1850s
Artist: Burnard, Neville Northey
Description: Bust of Professor Edward Forbes F.R.S. Carved by N.N. Burnard after Forbes' death (1854) and presented by the subscribers to the People of the Isle of Man in 1858. Bust in white marble, on a grey granite column and plinth. On display originally in the Natural History Gallery at the Manx Museum.
Edward Forbes (1815-1854) was born in Douglas and from an early age showed a great interest in natural history, literature and drawing. Forbes originally studied medicine at Edinburgh but became increasingly interested in natural history and botany in particular.
Before his premature death at 39, Edward Forbes researched, wrote and lectured on a wide range of themes related to geology and natural history. His work ranged from plant collecting in Austria and dredging for deep sea marine life to being appointed curator of the Geological Museum and Professor of Geology at Edinburgh.
Base 0.38m x 0.38m x 0.38m = 0.055m3 (148kg)
Column 0.165m x 0.918m = 0.079m3 (212kg)
Bust 0.58m x 0.86m x 0.3m = 0.050m3 (135kg)
Total 496kg
#imuseumsculpture
Materials: granite, stone: marble
Object name: bust
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 1954-1742