Reclaiming the Foxglove, Cultivating Narratives A joint project between the Barber Institute of Fine Arts and the College of Medicine and Health (CMH) at the University of Birmingham (UoB) In 2021, students and staff from the College of Medicine and Health joined forces with the Barber Institute of Fine Arts to explore herbalism’s forgotten voices … Read more
Unrecorded Roman Artist Head of a Bearded Man Rome, 2nd century AD Marble 40.2 cm high This damaged bust probably dates from the 2nd century AD. The Emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 AD) was the first to introduce the Greek habit of wearing a beard, and this fashion was followed by wider society. Busts of the … Read more
Unrecorded Roman Artist Head of a Man Rome, 1st century AD Marble 31.1 x 20.3 x 22.3 cm The development of Roman portraiture is characterised by a stylistic cycle that alternately emphasised realistic or idealising elements. This battered bust (possibly re-carved), with its lifelike wrinkles and folds of skin tempered by classical, regular features, would … Read more
Unrecorded Greek Artist Head of a Woman Greece, about 445BC Marble 21.1 x 20 x 13 cm This sculpture was perhaps carved in about 445 BC and since detached from a relief. This may have been a high relief, or the pediment of a small building. The woman’s hair appears to be plaited high across … Read more
Unrecorded Persian Artist Head of a Spearman Persepolis, Persia (modern day Iran), 5th century BC Limestone 26.1 x 24.1 x 7.5 cm This fragment depicts a bearded profile head of a Persian guardsman wearing a feathered headdress. A tongue motif is on the bevelled edge above the head. It is from a frieze on the … Read more
Unrecorded Greek Artist Head of Aphrodite Greece, 4th century BC Marble 30 (19.5 excluding base) x 14 x 14 cm Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love and beauty; the Roman equivalent was Venus. She is shown here with wavy hair, which is a delicate nod to the notion that she sprang from the sea. … Read more
Unrecorded Greco-Roman Artist Torso of Venus Rome, 1st century AD Marble 58.4 cm high This fragment is based on a life-size prototype dating from the 4th century BC by the great Greek master Praxiteles (about 400-330 BC). He is credited as the first artist to fashion a monumental image of Aphrodite nude. The original, now … Read more
Francis Derwent Wood Profile Bust of Lady Barber (1869 – 1933) England, 1913 Marble 57 x 47 cm This profile bust depicts Lady Martha Constance Hattie Barber, the founder of the Barber Institute. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1914 and again in 1927. Lady Barber and her husband Sir Henry Barber were … Read more
Francis Derwent Wood Profile Bust of Sir Henry Barber (1860 – 1927) England, 1914 Plaster 55.8 x 39.4 cm Sir William Henry Barber was the husband of Lady Martha Constance Hattie Barber. Hattie founded the Barber Institute in 1932 in his memory. She died, childless, four months later, leaving the entire Barber fortune to the … Read more
Unrecorded Artist Pax: Christ in the Tomb between the Virgin and St John the Baptist Model: probably South German, after 1457; Variant: probably North Italian, about 1500 Bronze 16.6 x 10.7 cm This relief is a pax, or tablet, one of many such objects commonly used in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance as a … Read more
Jean Varin (model), and possibly Hubert le Sueur or Henri Perlan (cast) Bust of Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu (1585 – 1642) Model: Paris, 1641; Cast: Paris, 1643 or later Bronze 69.8 x 68 x 38 cm Richelieu was First Minister under Louis XIII (r.1610-43), and thus an extremely powerful figure in a period … Read more
Unrecorded Thai Artist Head of the Buddha Kingdom of Ayutthaya (present-day central Thailand), about 14th – early 15th century Bronze, with traces of gilt 20.6 cm high Purchased 1942 (No. 42.3)
Cesare Targone (after) The Madonna Mourning the Dead Christ Model: Probably Florence, about 1582-84; Cast: perhaps Milan, probably late 16th century Bronze 28.3 x 26.1 x 1 cm This cast relief is closely based on an exquisite repoussé (hammered) gold relief signed by the Venetian goldsmith Targone (J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu), his only certain … Read more
Francesco Fanelli A Trotting Horse with a Long Mane Model and Cast: perhaps London, 1630s Bronze 31.1 x 32.5 x 11 cm The model for this fine bronze only recently has been firmly attributed to Francesco Fanelli, a skilful Florentine sculptor who came to London and worked at the court of Charles I. It is … Read more
Unrecorded Scandinavian Artist Christ with Saints John the Baptist, Peter, Catherine, Barbara, James the Great and James the Less Scandinavia, 16th century Wood 53.4 x 161.5 x 9 cm This wooden panel may have been taken from the front of a chest. Purchased 1950 (No. 50.18)
Giovanni della Robbia (ascribed to) The Virgin and Child with a Bird Florence, Italy, about 1500-06 Terracotta relief, polychromed and glazed 139 x 95 cm This work was originally made for a monastic church in Castellina, near Florence, and is a typical product of the della Robbia family workshop around 1500. This workshop was arguably … Read more
Daniel Mauch (attributed to) St Dorothy of Caeserea Ulm, Germany, about 1510 Wood, polychromed and gilded 56 cm high According to legend, St Dorothy of Caesarea was martyred for her Christian beliefs in 304. A man taunted her when she was about to be executed and mockingly requested roses and apples from heaven. When a … Read more
Stefano Maderno Hercules and the Nemean Lion Model: Rome, 1621; Variant: perhaps German, possibly 17th or 18th century Wood 33.8 x 30.3 cm Maderno was the leading sculptor in Rome before the emergence of Gianlorenzo Bernini (1598-1680). His fine terracotta original of this model is now in Venice. It was much copied in bronze and … Read more
Unrecorded Italian Artist The Farnese Bull (The Punishment of Dirce) Model and Cast: Italian, perhaps 17th century (after the antique) Bronze 42.9 x 38 x 36 cm This is one of many small reproductions after a celebrated life-size antique marble group, excavated in Rome in 1545, and placed in the Palazzo Farnese there. In poor … Read more
Francesco Bertos (attributed to) The Drunken Silenus Model and Cast: Venice, Italy, early 18th century Bronze 24.7 x 22.5 cm This finely detailed bronze has only very recently been recognized as very probably the work of Francesco Bertos, who produced some of the most extraordinary, even eccentric, but virtuosic sculptures of the 18th century. It … Read more
Unrecorded Italian Artist Hercules and a Dragon Possibly Italian, possibly late 19th century Wax and cartapesta (papier mâché) 28.4 cm high This curious sculpture entered the collection, at great cost, as the work of the Florentine Renaissance sculptor Giovanni Francesco Rustici (1475-1554). Recent research has raised suspicions that it is neither by him nor even … Read more
Unrecorded Artist Infant with a Dolphin Probably Flemish or French, late 17th century Bronze 51.5 x 22 x 11 cm Dolphins are associated in classical mythology with Venus, goddess of Love, who emerged from the sea. Cupid, god of Love, is also often shown with a dolphin, and he may be the infant represented here. … Read more
Unrecorded Italian Artist A Roman Soldier on Horseback Probably North Italian, early 16th century, or later Bronze, with wooden pedestal 26.4 x 25.6 cm The horse, with its hogged mane and dressed forelock, is based on the second of the four celebrated classical Horses of St Mark’s, Venice. These inspired many small copies during the … Read more
Unrecorded Italian Artist A Soldier on Horseback Probably North Italian, 16th century or later Bronze with marble base 15.3 x 15.5 cm The rider may have been intended to represent St George, and as such would have held a spear in his right hand, thrust into a crouching dragon. However, the figure is out of … Read more
Unrecorded Italian Artist Bust of a Youth (St John the Baptist?) Florence, late 19th or early 20th century, in the style of about 1500 Terracotta, polychromed 43.1 x 46.4 x 15.5 cm Although probably made considerably later, as a pastiche, this work reflects the popularity for such terracotta busts in Renaissance Florence. It is based … Read more
Unrecorded Italian Artist A Female Saint Perhaps Siena, Italy, late 15th century or early 16th century Marble 50.3 x 19 x 10 cm This gracefully swaying figure, whose eyes are raised to heaven, wears a wimpled head-dress that frames her head. She once held a martyr’s palm branch in her right hand, and probably a … Read more
Unrecorded Indian Artist Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the Dance Vijayanagar, South India, probably 15th-16th century Bronze 78 x 69.2 x 24 cm The Hindu deity performs the mystic Dance of Creation. In the waving locks of his braided hair is the mermaid figure of Ganga. In his right ear is a man’s earring and in … Read more
Unrecorded German Artist St Catherine of Alexandria (?) Germany, probably Swabia, about 1520 Wood, polychromed and gilded 71.1 cm high This crowned figure with a book most likely represents the legendary Christian virgin-martyr St Catherine of Alexandria, patron saint of teachers and librarians. She was said to be a beautiful learned woman of royal birth, … Read more
Jean Louis André Théodore Géricault Anatomical Model of a Horse Model: Paris, about 1820-24; Cast: Paris, 1959 (number 3 of 20) Bronze 22.8 x 21.7 x 11 cm Greatly attracted to equine subjects, Géricault may have made the original wax model of a partly flayed horse to help accurately represent its anatomy in his paintings … Read more
Unrecorded French Artist A Woman Mourning France, 15th century Marble 14.8 x 4.5 x 4 cm Plinth: 5.8 x 5.7 x 5 cm A woman, standing, clasps her hands tightly around her heavily draped body. She peers out from under her headdress with a sombre expression and slightly pursed lips. This small figure was probably part of a … Read more