Josephine Butler (1828 – 1906) as depicted by Alexander Munro in sculpture (1855) and obituary (1907). Philippa Toogood

The purpose of this essay is to explore the extent to which Alexander Munro’s 1855 sculpture of Josephine Butler and her obituary, published in 1907 are helpful when attempting to explore her life and achievements. The two artefacts will be examined in order to assess how much synthesis can be found between them and the impression of Josephine Butler which they present. George and Josephine Butler met Alexander Munro when he was commissioned to produce statues for the Natural History Museum in Oxford. The friendship between Munro and the Butlers continued after they left Oxford. Munro sculpted Josephine
Butler three times and also produced several medallion sculptures of the couple’s only daughter, Evangeline, who died aged 5. Josephine was the leader of the Ladies’ National Association for the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts. She actively campaigned against the imprisonment of women accused of prostitution in Lock hospitals.