Sir Henry Irving
Death Mask
1905 (made)
1905 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This death mask of Sir Henry Irving was made by Sir George Frampton. Sir Henry Irving was an English stage actor. He was knighted in 1895, the first ever actor to be honoured in this way. According to Museum records, a death mask of Irving was commissioned by the actor-manager, Sir George Alexander who was employed by Irving and accompanied him to America in 1884-5. The mask was subsequently given to Mrs. Aria, a great personal friend of Irving, by Lady Alexander, in the late 1920s. This is apparently the only original mask in existence; other surviving versions are cast after it.
Sir George James Frampton (1860-1928) was an English sculptor, medallist and decorative artist. He worked in an architects office before being apprenticed to a firm of architectural masons. He studied modelling a the London School of Art under W.S. Frith, and in 1881 entered the Royal Academy Schools, where he won a gold medal and travelling scholarship in 1887. Like Lanteri he was involved in the exterior decoration of the Museum, executing the spandrel reliefs of Truth and Beauty above the Main Entrance.
Frampton was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Academy in 1894 and exhibited regularly across Europe, contributing to the Munich and Vienna Secession movements.
Sir George James Frampton (1860-1928) was an English sculptor, medallist and decorative artist. He worked in an architects office before being apprenticed to a firm of architectural masons. He studied modelling a the London School of Art under W.S. Frith, and in 1881 entered the Royal Academy Schools, where he won a gold medal and travelling scholarship in 1887. Like Lanteri he was involved in the exterior decoration of the Museum, executing the spandrel reliefs of Truth and Beauty above the Main Entrance.
Frampton was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Academy in 1894 and exhibited regularly across Europe, contributing to the Munich and Vienna Secession movements.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Sir Henry Irving (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Plaster, gilded, in a glazed wood case. |
| Brief description | Death mask, gilded plaster, Sir Henry Irving, by Sir George James Frampton R.A., England, 1905 |
| Physical description | Death mask, gilded plaster, of Sir Henry Irving. Showing the head with long flowing hair coming over the ears and long bushy eyebrows, the eyes and mouth are closed. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Mrs Aria |
| Object history | A death mask of Irving was commissioned by the actor-manager Sir George Alexander (1858-1918) who was employed by Irving, accompanying him to America in 1884-5. The mask was subsequently given to Mrs. Aria, a great personal friend of Irving, by Lady Alexander, in the late 1920s. Bequeathed to the Museum by Mrs Aria in 1932. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This death mask of Sir Henry Irving was made by Sir George Frampton. Sir Henry Irving was an English stage actor. He was knighted in 1895, the first ever actor to be honoured in this way. According to Museum records, a death mask of Irving was commissioned by the actor-manager, Sir George Alexander who was employed by Irving and accompanied him to America in 1884-5. The mask was subsequently given to Mrs. Aria, a great personal friend of Irving, by Lady Alexander, in the late 1920s. This is apparently the only original mask in existence; other surviving versions are cast after it. Sir George James Frampton (1860-1928) was an English sculptor, medallist and decorative artist. He worked in an architects office before being apprenticed to a firm of architectural masons. He studied modelling a the London School of Art under W.S. Frith, and in 1881 entered the Royal Academy Schools, where he won a gold medal and travelling scholarship in 1887. Like Lanteri he was involved in the exterior decoration of the Museum, executing the spandrel reliefs of Truth and Beauty above the Main Entrance. Frampton was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Academy in 1894 and exhibited regularly across Europe, contributing to the Munich and Vienna Secession movements. |
| Bibliographic reference | 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, p. 265, cat. no. 402 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.20-1932 |
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| Record created | June 22, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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