An alumna of Greensboro College, Earline heath King, is an internationally known sculptor who has done life-sized works as well as busts of prominent citizens throughout the world. Her works include Sir Winston Churchill, R. J. Reynolds on horseback and Gov. James B. Hunt Jr.

However, Ms. King does not limit herself to international figures. As a gift to Greensboro College, she did a bust of the President and presented it to the College earlier this year. It was an awkward experience for me. Of course, I wanted the College to have one of her original works, and I was honored to be the subject. As you would expect, it did require some time “sitting” for her as she took photographs and prepared the sketches she needed. Several months later I returned to her studio as she added the finishing touches.

I wondered how John Wesley would have reacted to an invitation to model for a work of art. Then in a review of his WORKS I found the answer to that question. In an entry dated Jan. 24, 1774, he writes: “I was desired by Mrs. Wright of New York to let her take my effigy in waxwork. She has that of Mister Whitefield and many others; but none of them, I think, comes up to a well-drawn picture.”

According to Conrad Archer, Patience Wright was born in 1725 to Quaker parents in New Jersey. Widowed at the age of 44, she moved to London in 1772 and became quite famous for her life-sized figures of contemporary notables. She filled her house on Haymarket Street with her work, which was of a superior quality.

In the early stages of the American War of Independence, Wright was a spy for the Americans, passing military information along to Benjamin Franklin. She later took up residence in Paris. Her only son did several portraits of George Washington.

It is not clear from the journal entry whether Wesley actually sat for an “effigy in waxwork.” He clearly was not given to sitting for any length of time while an artist worked. Apparently, he did find the time to model for the artist, just as I did.

Craven E. Williams
President
Greensboro College