Gladstone visited Orkney in September 1883, travelling aboard the Pembroke Castle with his friend, the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and members of both their families. The politician and the poet were given the Freedom of the Burgh of Kirkwall. The Museum collection includes a facsimile of the signatures of their party from the St Magnus Cathedral visitors’ book. During the following year, Gladstone’s secretary, Horace Seymour, wrote to Samuel Reid, Provost of Kirkwall, offering a portrait bust as a commemoration of the visit. This may well be the bust in question.