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Samuel Joseph (British, 1791-1850): A marble bust of Sir Herbert Taylor (British, 1775-1839) image 1
Samuel Joseph (British, 1791-1850): A marble bust of Sir Herbert Taylor (British, 1775-1839) image 2
Lot 45*,TP

Samuel Joseph (British, 1791-1850): A marble bust of Sir Herbert Taylor (British, 1775-1839)

Fine Decorative Arts
1 July 2025, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £6,400 inc. premium

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Samuel Joseph (British, 1791-1850): A marble bust of Sir Herbert Taylor (British, 1775-1839)

The sitter looking to sinister, his shoulders clad in classical armour and drapery, on turned and waisted circular socle plinth, 77cm overall, 61cm wide, 29cm deep

Footnotes

Provenance
Sir Herbert Taylor;
By family descent until sold in 2013.
Sotheby's London, Old Master Sculpture & Works Of Art, 4th December 2018, lot 128.

Sir Herbert Taylor was one of the most prominent and significant British courtiers and army officers in the late 18th century early 19th century. He served as private secretary to the Duke of York and Albany, King George III, and King William IV, and was also aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria. An unrepentant royalist, he embodied the quintessential establishment figure of his time.

Born in Kent, Taylor demonstrated an aptitude for languages, which led him to the Foreign Office. In 1792, he undertook a special mission to the Prussian headquarters in Frankfurt, and in 1793, he was introduced to the Duke of York, forging a lasting bond. He campaigned in Belgium during the 1790s and was promoted to captain in the 2nd Dragoon Guards. Upon his return to England in 1795, he became aide-de-camp to the Duke of York and subsequently assistant military secretary in the Commander-in-Chief's office. He worked under Lord Cornwallis, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, from 1798 to 1799, who described him as "indefatigable in business; and in honesty, fidelity and goodness of heart he has no superior" (Vetch, op. cit.).

In February 1799, Taylor became private secretary to the Duke of York. He rose through the ranks of the army, eventually attaining the rank of lieutenant-general in 1825. He became private secretary to King George III in 1805 and later served the queen. Taylor was Member of Parliament for Windsor from 1820 to 1823 but resigned his seat, feeling unable to fulfil all of his duties effectively. In March 1828, he was appointed master surveyor and surveyor-general of the ordnance of the United Kingdom, and later that year, he became adjutant-general of the forces, the second most important position in the British army. He served as private secretary to William IV during the Reform Bill crisis and was the first and principal aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria during his retirement.

Related Literature
R. Vetch (2008, January 03). Taylor, Sir Herbert (1775–1839), courtier and army officer. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. [accessed 28 Oct. 2018]

Additional information

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