Portion of a ceiling
Ceiling Portion
ca. 1855 - ca. 1870 (made)
ca. 1855 - ca. 1870 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a model for a portion of a ceiling decoration so far unidentified, made by Alfred Stevens in ca. 1855-70. It is arranged in two compartments, one octagonal and one square. The octagonal is decorated with the following bands of ornament, including leaves, male masks, egg and dart moulding, a palmette ornament between two cornucopia, an astragal and a twisted riband round a blank centre. The square portion has a blank centre surrounded by a band of egg and dart moulding, astragals and a twisted riband.
A sculptor, designer and painter, Alfred Stevens (1817/18-1875) rejected contemporary distinctions between fine art and design. From 1850 to 1857 he was chief designer to Hoole & Co., Sheffield, where he produced award-winning designs for metalwork, majolica, terracotta ornaments and chimney-pieces. Perhaps his two greatest works were the decorations for the dining-room at Dorchester House, London (about 1856), for which he made countless drawings inspired by the Italian High Renaissance style, in particular the work of Michelangelo and the monument to the Duke of Wellington for St Paul's Cathedral, London, which was completed after his death. The two allegorical groups from this monument made a lasting impact on the New Sculpture movement.
The influence of the Italian Renaissance is evident in much of Steven's work, and is perhaps best reflected in the Wellington monument.
A sculptor, designer and painter, Alfred Stevens (1817/18-1875) rejected contemporary distinctions between fine art and design. From 1850 to 1857 he was chief designer to Hoole & Co., Sheffield, where he produced award-winning designs for metalwork, majolica, terracotta ornaments and chimney-pieces. Perhaps his two greatest works were the decorations for the dining-room at Dorchester House, London (about 1856), for which he made countless drawings inspired by the Italian High Renaissance style, in particular the work of Michelangelo and the monument to the Duke of Wellington for St Paul's Cathedral, London, which was completed after his death. The two allegorical groups from this monument made a lasting impact on the New Sculpture movement.
The influence of the Italian Renaissance is evident in much of Steven's work, and is perhaps best reflected in the Wellington monument.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Plaster model |
| Brief description | Model, ceiling portion, moulding, plaster, leaves, cornucopiae, masks, by Alfred Stevens, England, ca. 1855-70 |
| Physical description | Portion of a ceiling in plaster. It is arranged in two compartments, one octagonal and one square, the octagonal being decorated with the following bands of ornament round a blank centre:- (1) conventional leaves, (2) four male masks alternating with four groups, each consisting of a palmette ornament between two cornucopiae, (3) egg and tongue, (4) astragal, and (5) twisted riband; the square portion has a blank centre surrounded by (1) an egg and tongue banc, (2) an astragal band, and (3) a twisted riband. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Purchased from James Gamble Esq., 24 Rich Terrace, South Kensington, London in 1899, together with Mus. no. 353-1899 for £12 10s each. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is a model for a portion of a ceiling decoration so far unidentified, made by Alfred Stevens in ca. 1855-70. It is arranged in two compartments, one octagonal and one square. The octagonal is decorated with the following bands of ornament, including leaves, male masks, egg and dart moulding, a palmette ornament between two cornucopia, an astragal and a twisted riband round a blank centre. The square portion has a blank centre surrounded by a band of egg and dart moulding, astragals and a twisted riband. A sculptor, designer and painter, Alfred Stevens (1817/18-1875) rejected contemporary distinctions between fine art and design. From 1850 to 1857 he was chief designer to Hoole & Co., Sheffield, where he produced award-winning designs for metalwork, majolica, terracotta ornaments and chimney-pieces. Perhaps his two greatest works were the decorations for the dining-room at Dorchester House, London (about 1856), for which he made countless drawings inspired by the Italian High Renaissance style, in particular the work of Michelangelo and the monument to the Duke of Wellington for St Paul's Cathedral, London, which was completed after his death. The two allegorical groups from this monument made a lasting impact on the New Sculpture movement. The influence of the Italian Renaissance is evident in much of Steven's work, and is perhaps best reflected in the Wellington monument. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 354:1, 2-1899 |
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| Record created | March 9, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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