George Hayward (1791-1863) 1860

Curator: There’s something so calm about this bust of George Hayward by Richard Saltonstall Greenough. The marble almost glows. Editor: He looks like he's holding a secret, doesn't he? A very proper, 19th-century secret. I wonder what role Dr. Hayward had in shaping medical practices. Curator: He was a prominent physician, yes. Greenough, known for his neoclassical style, captured that sense of authority and intellect, very deliberately emulating Roman portraiture to ennoble the subject. It’s a statement about the man’s status. Editor: It makes you wonder about the power dynamics at play when commissioning such a piece. Did Hayward want to be seen this way, or was it Greenough's interpretation? Curator: It's likely a collaboration, a dance between subject and artist, shaped by the conventions of the time. It’s fascinating to consider who gets remembered in stone, and why. Editor: Indeed. Makes me think about who we choose to immortalize today, and what materials we’ll use.