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Ada Lovelace

The portrait of Ada Lovelace was commissioned by Trinity College Dublin Art Collections

This portrait of Ada Lovelace was commissioned by Trinity College Dublin Art Collections after an international competition was held for the creation of four female scholar busts to be placed in the Long Room of the Old Library – a space that up until now has only housed representations of male scholars. There was a vote held on campus to select which female scholars to represent and it was decided that the busts of Ada Lovelace, Mary Wollstonecraft, Augusta Gregory and Rosalind Franklin would be added to the Long Room.

I was selected to represent Ada Lovelace (apparently the holder of most votes!). I wanted to create a bust that would not interfere visually with the incredible impact of the row of marble busts that line the central corridor of the Long Room and I felt that anything but marble would be inappropriate. I chose to produce her in white statuary marble sourced from Carrara, Italy. I made a clay model which, once approved, was then digitally scanned and cut from a marble block by CNC router, after which I finished the surface details by hand. Using modern computer-aided techniques to facilitate the carving process enabled me to complete the project on time but also had a nice synchronicity with Ada’s invention of the first computer algorithm.

The four new busts (Ada Lovelace, Mary Wollstonecraft, Augusta Gregory and Rosalind Franklin) were unveiled on St Brigid’s Day February 1st 2023 by TCD’s first female librarian Helen Shenton, its first female Provost Linda Doyle and by the former President of Ireland and now TCD chancellor Mary McAleese. It was a spine-tingling event of great import, you could literally feel the winds of change raising the hairs on the backs of our necks as we all stood there in the hallowed hall. Things would never be the same.

The library will be closed at the end of 2025 for several years for a long overdue renovation but the new female busts will continue to be displayed in the Long Room until then. To access the Old Library you will need to buy a ticket (which includes the Book of Kells Experience).

Interviews with the artists

Details

  • Carved White Statuary Carrara Marble
  • Commissioned by Trinity College Dublin Art Collections

Links

  • Trinity College University Art collections
  • The Long Room Library of Trinity College Dublin
  • Ada Lovelace in the Trinity College Dublin -Long Room of the Old Library
    Ada bust in situ in the Long Room of the Old Library
  • Ada Lovelace marble portrait
    Completed Ada Bust in marble
  • Ada Lovelace marble portrait
    Completed Ada Bust in marble
  • Ada Lovelace marble portrait
    Completed Ada Bust in marble
  • Ada Lovelace marble portrait
    Completed Ada Bust in marble
  • Ada Lovelace marble portrait
    Detail – Completed Ada Bust in marble
  • Ada Lovelace portrait by Maudie Brady
    Ada bust in situ in the Long Room of the Old Library
  • Ada Lovelace marble portrait in the Long Room Library
    Ada bust in situ in the Long Room of the Old Library
  • Ada Lovelace in the Long Room
    Ada bust in situ in the Long Room of the Old Library
  • Ada Lovelace Winning Maquette
    Winning maquette for Trinity College Dublin Long Room portrait commision
  • Ada life size clay modelling process
    Ada life size clay modelling process
  • Ada life size clay modelling process
    Ada life size clay modelling process
  • Ada life size clay modelling process
    Ada life size clay modelling process
  • Digital Scanning process of Ada life size clay
    Digital Scanning process of Ada life size clay
  • Digital Scanning process of Ada life size clay
    Digital Scanning process of Ada life size clay
  • Approved life size clay model for Ada Lovelace bust
    Approved life size clay model for Ada Lovelace bust
  • Hand finishing marble of Ada Lovelace
    Hand finishing marble of Ada Lovelace in Florence
  • Librarian of Long Room Old Library Helen Shenton, launching new female busts on St Brigid's Day 2023
    Librarian of Long Room Old Library Helen Shenton, launching new female busts on St Brigid’s Day 2023
  • Launch of new female busts in Long Room
    At the official launch of the new female busts in the Long Room, St Brigid’s Day 2023
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The ‘Me’ Gallery

HOD Creature FX Neal Scanlan and I
HOD Creature FX Neal Scanlan and I
'Red Star' on display at Figurativas2021 MEAM Barcelona
‘Red Star’ on display at Figurativas2021 MEAM Barcelona
Figure poly carve in progress for ruin set
Figure poly carve in progress for ruin set (The Hobbit)
Sculpting left figure
Sculpting left figure of architectural detail
Creature FX Sculptor Crew photo (I'm holding the dog)
Creature FX Sculptor Crew photo (I’m holding the dog)
Maudie Brady with the Australian actor Geoffrey Rush.
Finished chandelier before painting
Finished chandelier before painting (Dark Chrystal)
Wounded Faun Life size WIP
'Reflection' 3/4 clay sculpt in progress
‘Reflection’ 3/4 clay sculpt in progress
Poly carving of table
Poly carving of table
At MEAM for opening of the 14th ARC International Salon
At MEAM for opening of the 14th ARC International Salon
Figure poly carve for ruin set in The Hobbit
Figure poly carve for ruin set in The Hobbit
Écorhcé class end of year
Écorhcé class end of year
Polishing the Dark Crystal!
Polishing the Dark Crystall
Sculptor of the month in The Guide Artists Magazine (2018)
Daydream in clay
Awards Ceremony Honorable Mention in the 14th ARC Salon
Awards Ceremony in MEAM -Honorable Mention in the 14th ARC Salon
'Reflection' clay sculpt in progress
‘Reflection’ clay sculpt in progress
Maudie Brady with her sculpture Laura
Me and my work Laura
Marble carving in Jason Arkles studio
Launch of new female busts in Long Room
At the official launch of the new female busts in the Long Room, St Brigid’s Day 2023
Foundry in Sunshine, Australia
At Fundere foundry with ACU Art Collection curator Caroline Field and foundry director Cameron McIndoe. Sunshine, Australia
Maudie Brady with Mother Teresa portrait in clay
Maudie Brady with Mother Teresa. Work in progress
The Hobbit by Maudie Brady
Small Figure for Laketown Exterior (The Hobbit movie)
Moomba Parade 2011- float for King and Queen of Moomba carve
Moomba Parade 2011- float for King and Queen of Moomba carve
Character mask by Maudie Brady
I am sculpting a character mask for Star Wars, designed by Luke Fisher
Moomba Parade 2011- Royal Melbourne Show Float
Moomba Parade 2011- Royal Melbourne Show Float
Harp playing mermaid carve in progress
Harp playing mermaid carve in progress
The Hobbit by Maudie Brady
Broken tree sculpt Mirkwood (The Hobbit)
Moomba Parade 2011 poly carve
Moomba Parade 2011 poly carve, beard carved by Vince Partington
Hunters by Maudie Brady
Nicholas Dunand and myself did this polycarve of a small spacecraft.
Moomba Parade 2011 poly carve
Moomba Parade 2011 poly carve
Moomba Parade 2011- Throne for King and Queen of Moomba carve
Moomba Parade 2011 – Throne for King and Queen of Moomba carve
Moomba Parade 2011 thrones
Moomba Parade 2011 thrones

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Editions explained

In the context of sculptures, the term “edition” refers to a specific number of identical or nearly identical copies produced from an original sculpture, with each copy being numbered and signed. The artist closely oversees the production of each edition to ensure that the quality and fidelity to the original sculpture is maintained.

Artists and galleries usually provide a certificate of authenticity with each edition, including details about the sculpture, the edition number, and the artist’s signature. These certificates help establish the provenance and authenticity of the artwork.

In short, “edition” refers to a limited number of authorised copies produced from an original sculpture and therefore valuable and collectible in the art market.

One-of-a-kind sculptures are not considered editions because there is only a single, unique piece, and no reproductions are made.

Academic explained

When a sculpture is described as “academic,” it suggests that the artwork adheres to traditional artistic conventions, emphasising realism, precision, classical influences, and strong technical skills. It is often, but not always, created in a teaching environment where the artist has support and receives feedback from skilled teachers and colleagues.

Fragments and Crops

A Fragment is a unique single side cast of a part of a sculpture. It is a three dimensional object and can be any part of the sculpture, the face, part of a face, a shoulder blade, even the whole front or back of a torso. Fragments are often used by artists themselves to make a quick cast of a favourite part of a sculpture to be hung on the wall.

A Crop is similar to a fragment in that it’s taken from part of a sculpture. It’s not single sided but has a front and a back and therefore need a base to hold it upright.

Fragments and Crops are usually made in plaster or resin, they are not part of editions and does not come with certificates of authenticity but are usually signed by the artist.

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