Colossal white marble head of young woman after antique; head and collar only. Downcast head looking slightly to the right; hair in waves tied with ribbons to a chignon at nape of neck. On turned waisted white marble socle with blank label at front. The full-length marble statue of Venus of Arles, discovered in 1651, was the inspiration for this white marble bust of Venus, goddess of love. Although fragmented and missing a few parts when found, its head was intact. The downcast head is slightly turning to the right and her wavy hair is tied up with ribbons forming a chignon at the nape of the neck. In 1856 William Theed received a major commission for Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, which included the carving in white marble of six colossal busts after the antique to be placed in the gallery above the grand staircase at Buckingham Palace. William Theed was paid £504 for the six busts: ‘Juno’ of the Ludovico Collection in Rome, ‘Aesculapius’, ‘Achilles’, ‘Alexander of the Capitol’, ‘Venus of Arles’ and ‘Roma’. William Theed lived in Rome between 1826 and 1848 where he studied and worked in the workshops of the neo-classical artists Bertel Thorvaldsen, John Gibson and Richard James Wyatt. Following a recommendation from the sculptor John Gibson, Theed received his first commission from Prince Albert in 1847, for two marble statues for Osborne House in the idealised classical style. Encouraged by Gibson, he returned to London in 1848 and became one of the leading and most prolific artists of the period, and favourite of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It was with Prince Albert in particular with whom he established a close connection.