'Mrs Emily Robinson', John Gibson

Accession number WAG9847

Mrs Robinson was the daughter of a cultured Liverpool family, the d’Auguilars, and exerted a strong influence on Gibson’s early development as a sculptor. He was captivated by her character and beauty, and she was a sensitive critic of his work who helped to cultivate his mind by conversation and literature.

He erected this monument at his own expense, aiming to capture in it what he called ‘her beautiful Greek profile’. Its design is closely modelled on ancient Greek tombstones known as stelai, which were often carved in relief with a seated figure seen in profile.