Queen Victoria

This wax bust represents Queen Victoria, turned to the right wearing a V necked dress with sleeves decorated with ribbons and a sash.

Little has been discovered about William Le Grand and it is unclear whether he was a maker as well as a publisher of works in wax.

Wax portaits had become popular during the 18th century in Britain, but some artists continued the tradition in this material during the early 19th century, especially before the invention of photography. They were often modelled from the life; a mould could be made from this initial model, from which further copies could be cast. The waxes were small and portable, and the nature of the material meant that they were extremely naturalistic. Sometimes they were coloured, and extra items added, such as textiles, seed pearls or coloured glass, to increase the life-like appearance of the portrayal.