| Description Of Item | This plaster portrait bust was made in 1847 by Peter Slater. This bust offers a simple depiction of Davidson whose garments are not featured in the portrayal. This contrasts with the majority of other busts in the College’s collection where the sitter is usually depicted in classical garments or contemporary dress.
A particularly striking feature of this bust is its column around which leaves and a snake are wound; indeed this is the only bust in the College’s collection to possess a decorative column. It is possible, indeed likely, that the snake is a reference to Aesculapius or his daughter Hygeia, as both of these mythological figures are associated with the medical profession and are often accompanied by a snake in artistic representations.
Artist: Slater, Peter |