Of Scottish interest: A carved white marble portrait bust of a gentleman, by repute once believed to depict Sir John Turing, 1st Baronet of Foveran (c1595-1662)

probably late 17th / early 18th century

probably late 17th / early 18th century
carved full face wearing a long wig, jabot and gown, raised on a turned socle, 68cm high

By repute, this bust (traditionally identified as depicting Sir John Turing, 1st Bart of Foveran , c1595-1662) stood for many years by the village well which gave the Parish its name. Foveran translates as Fobharan in Scottish Gaelic and Fobhar is the anglicised version of the Irish name that signifies "the town of the water-springs". According to the vendors (Foveran Church of Scotland) it then stood in the hall of Foveran House and was subsequently bought by Sir John Leslie Turing, 11th Baronet (1895-1987) from the executors of the McKenzie family and gifted to the church in 1979.
The church has been in recent contact with the current Baronet and from a portrait believed to depict the 1st Baronet still in the family the bust bears no resemblance to the portrait which shows the 1st Baronet sporting a beard. Therefore, the traditional attribution is likely to be spurious. However, if the Turing connection is to be believed it is likely to depict the 4th or 5th Baronet.