Queen Victoria on horseback
Statuette
1853 (made)
1853 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The composition of this statuette (one of several extant versions) is derived from a similar equestrian group executed in marble by Thomas Thornycroft and his wife Mary, which was exhibited at the 1851 International Exhibition. The pose of the horse appears however to be taken from an engraving in the Illustrated London News of 2nd July 1853, commemorating Queen Victoria reviewing the troops at Chobham. The statuettes are therefore adaptions rather than straightforward reductions of the 1851 statue. Thornycroft later used this composition for a colossal bronze equestrian statue of Queen Victoria of 1869 to act as a pendant to that of Prince Albert, erected at Lims Street, St George's Plateau, Liverpool.
The present piece is one of around fifty which were commissioned by the Art Union of London to be distributed as annual prizes between 1854 and 1859.
After an ill-suited apprenticeship as a surgeon, Thomas Thornycroft (1815-1885) was sent to London and apprenticed to the sculptor John Francis (1780-1861). His wife Mary was the daughter of John Francis. He made an over-life sized plaster equestrian statue of Queen Victoria for the Great Exhibition of 1851. His monumental equestrian statue of Boadicea and her daughters now stands on Westminster Bridge. He also made the marble group 'Commerce' for the base of the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park.
The present piece is one of around fifty which were commissioned by the Art Union of London to be distributed as annual prizes between 1854 and 1859.
After an ill-suited apprenticeship as a surgeon, Thomas Thornycroft (1815-1885) was sent to London and apprenticed to the sculptor John Francis (1780-1861). His wife Mary was the daughter of John Francis. He made an over-life sized plaster equestrian statue of Queen Victoria for the Great Exhibition of 1851. His monumental equestrian statue of Boadicea and her daughters now stands on Westminster Bridge. He also made the marble group 'Commerce' for the base of the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Queen Victoria on horseback (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Statuette, bronze, Queen Victoria on horseback, by Thomas Thornycroft, English, 1853 |
| Physical description | The statuette depicts Queen Victoria wearing a feathered hat, seated side-saddle on a horse with its right foreleg raised. Signed and dated. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'T.THORNYcroft FECT/LONDON 1853' (on the base) |
| Object history | Originally in the Handley-Read Collection. Bought from Thomas Stainton, Buckinghamshire in 1972 for £275. |
| Historical context | This statuette depicts Queen Victoria reviewing the troops at Chobham on 21st June 1853 and is one of about 50 commissioned by the Art Union of London for distributuion as annual prizes 1854-9. The model was completed in February 1854 when it was submitted for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's approval. The Builder stated that it 'elicted warm commendation' from the royal couple and went on to praise the work considering that the statuettes would 'form most covetable prizes' for subscribers. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The composition of this statuette (one of several extant versions) is derived from a similar equestrian group executed in marble by Thomas Thornycroft and his wife Mary, which was exhibited at the 1851 International Exhibition. The pose of the horse appears however to be taken from an engraving in the Illustrated London News of 2nd July 1853, commemorating Queen Victoria reviewing the troops at Chobham. The statuettes are therefore adaptions rather than straightforward reductions of the 1851 statue. Thornycroft later used this composition for a colossal bronze equestrian statue of Queen Victoria of 1869 to act as a pendant to that of Prince Albert, erected at Lims Street, St George's Plateau, Liverpool. The present piece is one of around fifty which were commissioned by the Art Union of London to be distributed as annual prizes between 1854 and 1859. After an ill-suited apprenticeship as a surgeon, Thomas Thornycroft (1815-1885) was sent to London and apprenticed to the sculptor John Francis (1780-1861). His wife Mary was the daughter of John Francis. He made an over-life sized plaster equestrian statue of Queen Victoria for the Great Exhibition of 1851. His monumental equestrian statue of Boadicea and her daughters now stands on Westminster Bridge. He also made the marble group 'Commerce' for the base of the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.6-1972 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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