Garden Statue Revealed as £18,000 Masterpiece

A remarkable discovery has been made in the Cotswolds, where a marble bust, dating back to 1854, was found after spending more than seven decades outdoors, mistaken for a garden ornament. This lichen-covered sculpture, initially thought to be reconstituted stone, has been identified as the work of Harriet Goodhue Hosmer, a pioneering American neoclassical sculptor and a significant feminist figure. Hosmer, born in Massachusetts in 1830, established an international reputation in Rome during a time when the art world was heavily male-dominated. The bust is now slated to go under the hammer at Chorley's Auctioneers, with estimates suggesting it could fetch up to £18,000. This find underscores the idea that valuable art objects are not always secured in private collections but can be hidden in plain sight. Hosmer's legacy also includes being an openly gay artist in an era where such relationships faced significant social condemnation, further solidifying her status as a trailblazer. Her life and work are celebrated for their exceptional nature and impact, marking her as a feminist icon. The auction house director, Thomas Jenner-Fust, highlighted this discovery as proof of art's potential to be found unexpectedly.