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Mourning figure
  • Mourning figure
    Nollekens, Joseph, born 1737 - died 1823
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Mourning figure

  • Place of origin:

    England, Great Britain (made)

  • Date:

    late 18th or early 19th century (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Nollekens, Joseph, born 1737 - died 1823 (maker)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Terracotta

  • Museum number:

    A.11-1934

  • Gallery location:

    Making Ceramics, room 143, case 3, shelf 1

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This terracotta is a model for an allegorical figure on a monument to Thomas Archer, a leading architect. Archer designed the monument himself, but commissioned the figures from Henry Cheere, who was one of the few native-born sculptors working in England at this period.

Cheere began his career as an apprentice mason, and had set up his own studio near St. Margaret's Westminster by 1726. Later Louis François Roubiliac (1702-1762) worked with him. Cheere is not only renowned for his busts and funerary monuments, but for his rococo chimneypieces, often, like the monuments, made of coloured marbles.

Physical description

Statuette, a mourning figure, terracotta. The figure in long flowing drapery stands against the side of a sarcophagus. She is supported on her right leg, the left slightly bent at the knee and the foot drawn away to the right. She looks over her shoulder to the left while with her left hand she grasps the drapery which covers her hair, the elbow is resting on the edge of the sarcophagus.

Place of Origin

England, Great Britain (made)

Date

late 18th or early 19th century (made)

Artist/maker

Nollekens, Joseph, born 1737 - died 1823 (maker)

Materials and Techniques

Terracotta

Dimensions

Height: 45.5 cm

Object history note

Given by Dr W.L Hildburgh, F.S.A.

Descriptive line

Mouring figure, Mrs Archer.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Williamson, Paul. (ed.) European Sculpture at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London. 1996. p.19 and fig. 10.
Bilbey, Diane with Trusted, Marjorie. British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: V& A Publications, 2002. pp. 63. cat. no. 85.

Materials

Terracotta

Collection code

SCP

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Qr_O127088
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