Venus and Cupid
Relief
ca. 1839 (made)
ca. 1839 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This marble relief of Venus and Cupid was made by John Gibson, in Britain in about 1839. This may be the Venus and Cupid relief exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1839. However, he is known to have executed more than one version of the subject, and another is housed at the Royal Academy, Burlington House. Gibson spent most of his working life in Rome, and had studied in Canova's studio.
Two versions of Venus and Cupid are listed by Lady Eastlake in her work on Gibson of 1870: one in the ownership of the Marquis of Albercorn and another owned by Howard Galton Esq. of Hadzor (Eastlake 1970, p. 253). The present piece may be one of these. Two versions are in the Royal Academy, one in marble and another in plaster painted so to imitate terracotta.
Gibson (1790-1866) was apprenticed to Messrs Franceys, the Liverpool firm of statuaries and later removed to Rome where he received instruction from Canova and Thorwaldsen. Elected A.R.A in 1833 and RA in 1838. He became the leading English sculptor of his generation working in the Neoclassical style and was famous for such works as the Tinted Venus, Pandora, Mars and Cupid and Psyche and Zephers. He also executed public statues and busts. He bequeathed his property on his death to the Royal Academy.
Two versions of Venus and Cupid are listed by Lady Eastlake in her work on Gibson of 1870: one in the ownership of the Marquis of Albercorn and another owned by Howard Galton Esq. of Hadzor (Eastlake 1970, p. 253). The present piece may be one of these. Two versions are in the Royal Academy, one in marble and another in plaster painted so to imitate terracotta.
Gibson (1790-1866) was apprenticed to Messrs Franceys, the Liverpool firm of statuaries and later removed to Rome where he received instruction from Canova and Thorwaldsen. Elected A.R.A in 1833 and RA in 1838. He became the leading English sculptor of his generation working in the Neoclassical style and was famous for such works as the Tinted Venus, Pandora, Mars and Cupid and Psyche and Zephers. He also executed public statues and busts. He bequeathed his property on his death to the Royal Academy.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Venus and Cupid (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Marble relief |
| Brief description | Relief, marble, Venus and Cupid, by John Gibson, English, ca. 1839 |
| Physical description | This oval marble relief depicts Venus, who is seated on a rock in left profile and draws Cupid on to her lap and is about to kiss his lips. She is naked, save for drapery over lap and legs. She wears a bracelet on her left wrist. At her feet lie a bow and quiver. Signed. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'I GIBSON FECIT / ROMÆ' (at the bottom right)
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| Object history | Bought from Leigh Underhill, London, for £150 in 1963 using funds from the Hildburgh bequest. Its provenance before is unknown. Historical significance: Two versions of Venus and Cupid are listed by Lady Eastlake in her work on Gibson of 1870: one in the ownership of the Marquis of Albercorn and another owned by Howard Galton Esq. of Hadzor (Eastlake 1970, p. 253). The present piece may be one of these. Two versions are in the Royal Academy, one in marble and another in plaster painted so to imitate terracotta. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This marble relief of Venus and Cupid was made by John Gibson, in Britain in about 1839. This may be the Venus and Cupid relief exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1839. However, he is known to have executed more than one version of the subject, and another is housed at the Royal Academy, Burlington House. Gibson spent most of his working life in Rome, and had studied in Canova's studio. Two versions of Venus and Cupid are listed by Lady Eastlake in her work on Gibson of 1870: one in the ownership of the Marquis of Albercorn and another owned by Howard Galton Esq. of Hadzor (Eastlake 1970, p. 253). The present piece may be one of these. Two versions are in the Royal Academy, one in marble and another in plaster painted so to imitate terracotta. Gibson (1790-1866) was apprenticed to Messrs Franceys, the Liverpool firm of statuaries and later removed to Rome where he received instruction from Canova and Thorwaldsen. Elected A.R.A in 1833 and RA in 1838. He became the leading English sculptor of his generation working in the Neoclassical style and was famous for such works as the Tinted Venus, Pandora, Mars and Cupid and Psyche and Zephers. He also executed public statues and busts. He bequeathed his property on his death to the Royal Academy. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.22-1963 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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