Jesus in the Lumber Room: Edmonia Lewis's 'Bust of Christ' - October Talk
10:30am on 5th October 2025
Location: Mount Stuart
Jesus in the Lumber Room: Edmonia Lewis's 'Bust of Christ' - October Talk
Join us on Sunday 5th October for a very special celebration of the African American and Native American sculptor Edmonia Lewis with the renowned art historian Professor Susannah Thompson.
The Bute Collection at Mount Stuart cares for a remarkable and rare example of sculpture by Edmonia Lewis - one of only two works by the artist in publicly accessible collections in the UK.
In October 2015, a post on Mount Stuart’s social media pages sent art historians into a flurry of excitement, leading to claims that the Bust of Christ, a previously believed ‘lost’ work by the artist Edmonia Lewis (1844-1907) had been '(re)discovered' in the Bute Collection. Lewis, a woman of African-American and First Nation (Ojibwe) heritage, is often cited as the first Black artist to have received international acclaim as a sculptor.
Her patron John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute was a fellow Catholic convert, and he became one of the most significant patrons of art, design and architecture of the late 19th century. The Bust of Christ is one of at least three works of art he bought or commissioned from Lewis between the 1870 and the late 1880s.
After being held in storage for over 100 years, the Bust of Christ was re-displayed at Mount Stuart in 2021, and it has since been exhibited at Tate Britain in 2024.
In this talk, Professor Thompson will trace the story of the Bust of Christ's acquisition, the relationship between Edmonia Lewis and the 3rd Marquess of Bute, and ask why it remained unknown for so long. The talk also proposes ways in which its recent re-display might raise broader questions around histories of patronage and sculpture.
We are delighted to welcome Professor Susannah Thompson to Mount Stuart for a celebration of the Bust of Christ by Edmonia Lewis during Black History Month this October.
About our October Speaker
Susannah Thompson is an art historian, writer and critic from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, based in Glasgow. She is Professor of Art History and Criticism at Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University.
Event Information
- The event takes place at Mount Stuart House, postcode PA20 9LR
- Parking is available at the main House, please follow signage for coach and accessible parking
- Doors open at 10:15am for a 10:30am talk start
- Visitors with special access requirements should contact the Mount Stuart team in advance to make arrangements e: contactus@mountstuart.com
- Current Mount Stuart Members are entitled to a discounted ticket rate for the talk, please select the Mount Stuart Member option when booking
Tickets
