Collections Unrecorded Spanish Artist Christ at the Column Spain, 19th century Elephant ivory 22.8 x 7 x 3cm This sculpture was identified as a deliberately aged fake during the conservation of the ivories in the Barber’s collection in 2012. It may have been copied from 13th-century statues called ‘ivory corpora’ (sculptures of the crucified Christ). The … Read more
Unrecorded French Artist Mirror back carved with a Tournament Scene Paris (?), 19th century imitation of the French 14th-century style Elephant ivory 8.4 cm diameter including four pierced lions on the rim This is a 19th-century imitation of a mirror back carved in the French 14th-century style. It is closely based on genuine examples. The … Read more
Unrecorded French Artist Wing of a Diptych with Saint John the Baptist and other Figures Paris, 14th century Elephant ivory with traces of gilding and colour 7.8 x 5.4cm There are traces of hinges on the left hand side of this carving, suggesting that the piece was originally part of a diptych (an object made … Read more
Unrecorded French Artist Casket with Scenes of Chivalry and Love Paris (?), early 14th century Elephant ivory; brass brackets, straps and handles (later additions) 9.5 x 23.2 x 13.6cm This is one of nine such caskets (or coffrets) known to have survived complete, most others are in prestigious museum collections around the world, including the … Read more
(Hermann) Max Pechstein Still Life in Grey Berlin, signed and dated 1913 Oil on canvas 100.3 x 74.6 cm Signed with monogram and dated upper right: HMP This colourful still life presents an unusual combination of objects including a cauliflower, a blue and white jug in an east German design (specifically that of Saxony), and … Read more
Lovis Corinth Portrait of Dr Ferdinand Mainzer (1871–1943) Berlin, 1899 Oil on canvas Canvas: 75 x 58 cm; Frame: 94.5 x 76.2 x 10 cm Corinth was a key figure in the development German modernist art, his work a vital bridge between the visual explorations of late nineteenth century Impressionism and the psychological preoccupations of … Read more
Small portraits, often originally encased in intricate bejewelled frames or snugly stowed in lockets, were both a unique art form and a form of jewellery popular across Europe for over 350 years, from about 1510 to 1860. These portrait miniatures were intended to be viewed up close, cradled in the hand, worn on the body … Read more
Walter Richard Sickert The Eldorado, Paris Paris, 1906 Oil on canvas 48.2 x 59 cm unframed; 67.3 x 78.6 x 8 cm framed Sickert spent much time in France until 1905 and was influenced by Whistler and Degas, becoming on his return to England the main link between British and French art. Many of his best … 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
