Medal
ca. 1953 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bronze cast, the reverse of a medal, representing an unknown woman, was made in 1953 by order of the Trustees of the Tate Gallery after an original design in plaster made by Stevens for the Local Medal for the Department of Science and Art in 1856. The design is based on a drawing also by Stevens.
A sculptor, designer and painter, Alfred Stevens 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 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 | |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Medal, bronze, an unknown woman, after Alfred Stevens, English, 1953 (original 1856) |
| Physical description | The bronze shows three partly draped female figures representing Painting, Architecture and Sculpture, sitting on a throne. Around the border is inscription. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Presented by Art Fund |
| Object history | This bronze cast of a reverse of a medal was made in 1953 by order of the Trustees of the Tate Gallery after a design in plaster made by Stevens for the Local Medal for the Department of Science and Art in 1856. The design is based on a drawing also by Stevens. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This bronze cast, the reverse of a medal, representing an unknown woman, was made in 1953 by order of the Trustees of the Tate Gallery after an original design in plaster made by Stevens for the Local Medal for the Department of Science and Art in 1856. The design is based on a drawing also by Stevens. A sculptor, designer and painter, Alfred Stevens 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. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.27-1975 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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