Mary Isabella Matheson

Alexander Munro (1825-1871)

c. 1861

White marble (one of a pair, the other bust being of Mary's brother Kenneth)

46.5 x 28.5 x 20 cm

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Wynd, Inverness

Mary was the daughter of Sir Alexander Matheson, a wealthy man who had land in Inverness as well as rural estates. It would have been natural for him to give this commission to Munro, "one of the few Inverness artists with an international reputation" ("Mary Isabella Matheson"). As in many photographs of Victorian girls, her dress is off one shoulder, but her long curly hair covers it, and she looks down modestly.

Bust of Kenneth James Matheson

Photograph, text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee, with thanks to the Museum for allowing photography. Click on the image to enlarge it.

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