Lesbia

1859 · Bust · 28.5 × 14.8 cm

Can I see it?

Not on view at present

Where is “Lesbia” now? Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Not on view at present. Checked September 25, 2026.

Victoria and Albert Museum

London, United Kingdom

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked: 15 days ago
In this state since: Sep 25, 2026
Source: The museum

On the map Museum page

About the sculpture

Parian is a type of porcelain developed in the 1840s that was used to produce sculptures on a reduced scale. It was ideally suited to scultpure due to its marble-like appearance, and provided an opportunity for the growing middle classes to express their artistic tastes by acquiring inexpensive sculptures to show in their homes. The question of who first developed the material has long been disputed, however there is now some consensus that it originated at the Spode factory of Copeland and Garrett, where this bust was made.

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The success of Parian was largely down to the involvement of the Art Unions, who desired to 'advance civilisation by the improvement of Art', and who regularly commissioned Parian busts and sculptures for their annual distributions of art. This bust of Enid was sculpted by W.C Marshall and produced in 1859 in two sizes, sponsored by the Ceramic and Crystal Palace Art Union.

The bust depicts Lesbia, a character and theme of Catullus' poems. Lesbia is believed to be a pseudonym for Catullus' lover Clodia, and his emotions for her are highly charged and wide-ranging. In her story she is depicted with a pet sparrow, hence the sparrow on the bust's shoulder. This is a common feature in depictions of Lesbia, such as the 1907 Poynter painting 'Lesbia and her sparrow'.

Victoria and Albert Museum