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Justice from the Tomb of Judge Francis Bernard

Model
ca. 1732 (made)
Artist/Maker
Scheemakers, Peter (modeller)
Place of origin
London (made)

Like preparatory drawings, sketch models are used by sculptors to record and develop their initial ideas. When working on a monument, Scheemakers submitted sketch models of the principal figures to his patrons before the contract was finalised. This model is for a figure on a carved marble monument in Ballymodon church, County Cork. Its mottled appearance is due to the removal of various later layers of paint.

Peter Scheemakers (1691-1781) was one of the leading sculptors working in Britain in the mid-18th century, and was renowned for his tombs and portrait busts in particular.
His training in the Netherlands would have included the modelling of terracottas.

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Death
Myths & Legends
Object type
Model
TitleJustice from the Tomb of Judge Francis Bernard (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Terracotta, made from modelled clay
Terracotta
Brief description
Sketch-model, terracotta, Justice from the Tomb of Judge Francis Bernard, by Peter Scheemakers, England (London), ca. 1732
Physical description
Justice is represented by a seated, mourning woman, resting her left cheek on her left hand, and holding a sword (now broken) in her right hand. She wears a loosely draped dress, and veil over her head.
Dimensions
  • Approx height: 37cm
  • Of base width: 17.4cm
  • Of base depth: 11.3cm
Object history
Purchased from G.M. Heelas, Kent in 1989 for £4,000.
Subjects depicted
Justice
Justice
Summary
Like preparatory drawings, sketch models are used by sculptors to record and develop their initial ideas. When working on a monument, Scheemakers submitted sketch models of the principal figures to his patrons before the contract was finalised. This model is for a figure on a carved marble monument in Ballymodon church, County Cork. Its mottled appearance is due to the removal of various later layers of paint.

Peter Scheemakers (1691-1781) was one of the leading sculptors working in Britain in the mid-18th century, and was renowned for his tombs and portrait busts in particular.
His training in the Netherlands would have included the modelling of terracottas.
Bibliographic references
  • Bilbey, Diane and Trusted, Marjorie, British Sculpture 1470-2000: A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: V&A Publications, 2002 p. 148, cat.no 201
  • Williamson, Paul, "Acquisition of Sculpture at the Victoria & Albert Museum, 1986-1991", in: Burlington Magazine, Dec. 1991, p. 876
  • Smith, C., The Ancient and Present State of the County and City of Cork, Cork, 1893, I, pp. 216-7
  • Gunnis, R., Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851, London, 1952, pp. 341-4
  • Peter Scheemakers : the famous statuary 1691-1781 no.21
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.1-1989

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Record createdApril 12, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O111037/justice-from-the-tomb-of-model-scheemakers-peter/
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