Jacob Bronowski

I was recently asked to carve the inscription on the Portland stone plinth for the bust of Jacob Bronowski now situated in Jesus College, Cambridge.

This excellent bust was sculpted by Robert Hunt, Honorary Secretary of the Society of Portrait Sculptors and cast in Bronze by Talos Foundry.

My initial rough layout of the inscription and a 'clean' version which was then transferred onto the stone.

With a sheet of carbon paper underneath my drawing, I simply trace the design onto the stone. Often I prefer to draw letters directly onto the stone, in this instance however it was helpful to first set out the inscription on paper so that Robert Hunt could approve the position and layout of the lettering.

Carving the inscription at Talos Foundry, Project Workshops.

My hands at work!

The finished inscription.

And finally...

Here is Henry Gray setting special fixings into the stone, carefully aligning the bronze bust in the Talos Foundry workshop. The bust is wrapped and slung so that it can be carefully lifted and lowered into position by hoist.

Jacob Bronowski, by Robert Hunt, safe and secure shortly before his trip to Jesus College, Cambridge. There the bust was unveiled and received with adulation.

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