Mary Shelley (1797–1851) 1843

This marble bust of Mary Shelley was crafted by Camillo Pistrucci, an artist born more than a decade after Shelley, the author of "Frankenstein." The flowing drapery around Shelley's shoulders, reminiscent of classical statuary, is not merely decorative; it evokes a sense of timelessness. This motif of draped fabric can be traced back to ancient Roman portraiture, a visual language used to convey status and intellect. The simple hairstyle also conveys a similar message. The subdued hairstyle is an overt reference to the Neoclassical ideals of beauty, which themselves are a revival of antique aesthetics. Note how the Neoclassical style resurfaces here, infused with the Romantic era's fascination with emotion and the sublime.