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Hyacinthus

Model
1854 (made)
Artist/Maker
Earle, Thomas (artist)
Place of origin
England (made)

This is a plaster model made by Thomas Earle in England in 1854. Hyacinthus was a beautiful youth loved by Apollo, and died after being accidentally struck on the head by a discus, the hyacinth flower springing up where his blood had been spilt.

Thomas Earle (1810-1876), the son of the sculptor John Earle (1779-1863) initially trained at the workshop of Sir Francis Chantrey, later attending the Royal Academy Schools in 1832. He exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy between 1834 and 1873, and at the British Institution between 1843 and 1865.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Myths & Legends
Object type
Model
TitleHyacinthus (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Plaster
Plaster
Brief description
Model, plaster, Hyacinthus, by Thomas Earle, English, 1854
Physical description
A naked boy standing with discus in his hands. Signed and inscribed.
Dimensions
  • Height: 150cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'T. EARLE/Sc:/1854' (singed at the back of the support)
  • '[HY]ACINTHUS' (inscribed on integral pedestal at the front)
Object history
Given by Mrs Earle in 1876.
Subjects depicted
Boy
Discus
Hyacinthus
Summary
This is a plaster model made by Thomas Earle in England in 1854. Hyacinthus was a beautiful youth loved by Apollo, and died after being accidentally struck on the head by a discus, the hyacinth flower springing up where his blood had been spilt.

Thomas Earle (1810-1876), the son of the sculptor John Earle (1779-1863) initially trained at the workshop of Sir Francis Chantrey, later attending the Royal Academy Schools in 1832. He exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy between 1834 and 1873, and at the British Institution between 1843 and 1865.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1876, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., p. 33
  • Bilbey, Diane and Trusted Marjorie. British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2002, pp. 255-256, cat. no. 387
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
383-1876

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Record createdSeptember 26, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O167858/hyacinthus-model-earle-thomas/
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