Lawrence Macdonald began his career as an ornamental mason and entered the Trustees' Academy in 1822. After seven months he left for Rome to study sculpture. On his return to Edinburgh, he set up a studio and was elected a Royal Scottish Academician in 1829. The work he exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy launched him as a sculptor of heroic works, in the style of classical antique sculpture. In 1832 Macdonald returned to Rome to take up permanent residence and later took over the studio left vacant on the death of the neoclassical sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen. Macdonald's portrait busts enabled commissions for his favoured type of sculpture - ideal antique statuary. The sculptor of this bust, John Hutchison, was mentored by Macdonald during his spell training in Rome.