Woman with a book, possibly Religion, or Mrs Jane Coke of Holkham
Figure
1800 - 1802 (made)
1800 - 1802 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This terracotta is possibly related to a monument to Jane Coke (1753-1800) of Holkham at Tittleshall, Norfolk. It may have been inspired by Roman baroque tomb sculpture. Nollekens's terracotta studies were an important means by which he worked out ideas, though he was also a prolific draughtsman, and many of his drawings are housed at the Museum. Drawings relating specifically to the monument to Mrs Coke are held at the V&A, in Sir John Soane's Museum and the Ashmolean Museum, in Oxford.
Joseph Nollekens (1737-1823) was a prolific sculptor of portrait busts and operated a thriving workshop in London. He spent eight years in Rome from 1762 to 1770, where he worked with Bartolomeo Cavaceppi restoring and copying antique marbles. One of these copies, his group of Castor and Pollux, is in the Museum's collection (Museum no. A.59-1940). He probably perfected his modelling of clay while he was in Rome and started to experiment in making small figures or groups. These occasionally became models for large-scale finished marbles, but many, still in his studio at his death, were simply studies in their own right, which he called pensieri (thoughts).
Joseph Nollekens (1737-1823) was a prolific sculptor of portrait busts and operated a thriving workshop in London. He spent eight years in Rome from 1762 to 1770, where he worked with Bartolomeo Cavaceppi restoring and copying antique marbles. One of these copies, his group of Castor and Pollux, is in the Museum's collection (Museum no. A.59-1940). He probably perfected his modelling of clay while he was in Rome and started to experiment in making small figures or groups. These occasionally became models for large-scale finished marbles, but many, still in his studio at his death, were simply studies in their own right, which he called pensieri (thoughts).
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Title | Woman with a book, possibly Religion, or Mrs Jane Coke of Holkham (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Terracotta |
Brief description | Figure, sketch model, terracotta, Woman with a book, possibly Religion, or Mrs Jane Coke of Holkham, by Joseph Nollekens, England, ca. 1800-1802 |
Physical description | Terracotta sketch model, standing women with a book in her left hand. She leans on a pedestal or broken column. Her right hand is missing. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label | Joseph Nollekens 1737–1823
Woman with a Book, perhaps Religion, or Jane Coke
About 1800–02
This is possibly related to a monument to Jane Coke (1753–1800) of Holkham, Norfolk. For Nollekens, terracotta studies were an important part of the design process, but he was also a prolific draughtsman. Many of his drawings are housed at the V&A, including some that relate to Mrs Coke’s monument.
London
Terracotta
Museum no. A.8-1944
Given by Miss Zoë Gordon Smith |
Credit line | Given by Miss Zoë Gordon Smith |
Object history | Sold on the second day of Christie's sale of Nollekens's studio effects, held on 4 July 1823, lot 19, and purchased by the sculptor Peter Rouw. Probably given by Mr Rouw to Mrs C.H. Smith. Thence by descent to Miss Zoë Gordon Smith. Given by Miss Zoë Gordon-Smith together with A.5-1944 to A.7-1944 and A.9-1944 and A.10-1944. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This terracotta is possibly related to a monument to Jane Coke (1753-1800) of Holkham at Tittleshall, Norfolk. It may have been inspired by Roman baroque tomb sculpture. Nollekens's terracotta studies were an important means by which he worked out ideas, though he was also a prolific draughtsman, and many of his drawings are housed at the Museum. Drawings relating specifically to the monument to Mrs Coke are held at the V&A, in Sir John Soane's Museum and the Ashmolean Museum, in Oxford. Joseph Nollekens (1737-1823) was a prolific sculptor of portrait busts and operated a thriving workshop in London. He spent eight years in Rome from 1762 to 1770, where he worked with Bartolomeo Cavaceppi restoring and copying antique marbles. One of these copies, his group of Castor and Pollux, is in the Museum's collection (Museum no. A.59-1940). He probably perfected his modelling of clay while he was in Rome and started to experiment in making small figures or groups. These occasionally became models for large-scale finished marbles, but many, still in his studio at his death, were simply studies in their own right, which he called pensieri (thoughts). |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.8-1944 |
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Record created | August 14, 2006 |
Record URL |
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