Paul 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Child with a Bird Florence, Italy, about 1500-06 Terracotta relief, polychromed and glazed 139 x 95 cm This work was originally made for a monastic church in Castellina, near Florence, and is a typical product of the della Robbia family workshop around 1500.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
Unrecorded Flemish Artist The Meeting of Joachim and Anna at the Golden Gate Brussels, Belgium, about 1500 Wood (oak) 55.9 x 40.3 cm The subject of the Meeting of Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Virgin Mary, comes from The Golden Legend (CXXIX). Their gestures of greeting are an unusual way of representing the … Read more
Unrecorded English Artist The Coronation of the Virgin Nottingham, England, about 1400 (frame later) Alabaster relief, polychromed (painted in colours) and gilded 103 x 58.5 x 17.8 cm The Virgin Mary, crowned as the Queen of Heaven, is seated on a throne next to Christ. His left hand rests on an orb, symbolising his dominion … Read more
Unrecorded Artist The Head of Amenhotep III Probably Paris, 1930s Gabbro (rock), with traces of paint 60 x 46.5 cm When acquired, this head was thought to have formed part of a full-length statue of the pharaoh Amenhotep the Third who ruled Egypt for forty years at the end of the 14th century BC. He … Read more
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi (Donatello) An Angel Playing an Aulos (Flute) Model: Padua, Italy, 1447; Cast: perhaps Italy, late 19th century Bronze 58 x 21.9 x 3.5 cm Donatello’s status as a pioneering sculptor of the 15th century was firmly established within his own lifetime. This relief, a simplified copy of one of … Read more
Jules Dalou The Hunter (Le Chasseur) Model: Paris, about 1898; Cast: Paris, early 1900s Bronze 63.9 x 35.5 x 28 cm This is one of ten casts after a model for a three metre high sculptural group intended for the stairwell of the duc de Gramont’s country house. The figure’s pose is based on a … Read more
Unrecorded Chinese artist The Head of a Boddhisattva Probably China, early 20th century Limestone, with traces of paint 58.4 cm high When acquired this was thought to be a fragment of a full-length colossal statue made for a Buddhist temple in China in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). A Bodhisattva is someone who has reached … Read more
Giovanni Bologna (Giambologna) Allegorical Figure of Astronomy (Venus Urania) Model: Florence, about 1573; Cast: probably French or Italian early/mid-17th century Bronze, with marble base 35 x 11 x 10 cm Plinth: 9.5 x 14.5 x 14.5 cm The prime, gilt, cast of Giambologna’s much-copied ‘Astronomy’ (Vienna) was made in about 1573, and is of superlative … Read more
Antonio Susini (model), and possibly Gianfrancesco Susini (cast) A Bull Model: Florence, early 1580s; Cast: Florence, early 17th century Bronze 23 x 27.2 x 8.5 cm Bulls were revered since antiquity for their strength and fertilising power. After horses, they were the most popular animal subject during the 17th century. Antonio Susini is thought to … Read more
Antonie-Louis Barye Theseus Combating the Centaur Biénor Model: Paris, about 1846-48; Cast: probably Paris, late 19th century Bronze 34.3 x 37.7 x 9 cm Plinth: 4 x 39.3 x 14 cm The mythical hero Theseus clubs to death Biénor, one of the centaurs who had tried to carry off the brides at the wedding of … Read more