Marble monument to Thomas Crosse and Robert Crosse thumbnail 1
Marble monument to Thomas Crosse and Robert Crosse thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 24, The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Galleries

Marble monument to Thomas Crosse and Robert Crosse

Monument
ca. 1745 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The mourning figure in this monument portrays Mary Martin (1667-1764), who erected the monument in memory of her nephew Thomas Crosse (1694-1732) and her brother Robert Crosse (1671-1741).

The sculptor, Robert Taylor (1714-1788), to whom this monument is attributed, was a highly successful architect, who also designed funerary monuments. Many of his designs are in the Taylorian Institute in Oxford, and one of these, with a medallion portrait, bears a close resemblance to this monument. He was the son of a master mason and monumental sculptor Robert Taylor. At the age of eighteen Robert Taylor junior was apprenticed to Henry Cheere, and following that he travelled to Rome to study. Following his father's death he got financial help from friends of his father, the Godfrey family of Woodford, which allowed him to set up business as sculptor. His most famous commissions were the sculpture in the pediment of the Mansion House of 1744, and the monument to Captain James Cornewall in Westminster Abbey of 1755. After about 1755 he concentrated more on his architectural practice.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMarble monument to Thomas Crosse and Robert Crosse (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Marble
Brief description
Monument, marble, to Thomas Crosse and Robert Crosse, attributed to Sir Robert Taylor, England, ca. 1754
Physical description
Monument to Thomas Crosse and Robert Crosse. The mourning figure is Mary Martin (b. 1667; d. 1764), at whose expense the monument was erected. The persons commemorated are her nephew and brother. The grey pyramid behind the figure sculpture is a modern copy, the original having been destroyed. Inscription.
Dimensions
  • Of thomas crosse height: 63.6cm
  • Height: 488cm
Marks and inscriptions
'This MONUMENT was Erected/at the Expense of MARY MARTIN/the eldest Daughter of Thomas Crosse/of Westminster Esquire and Widow/and Relict of William Martin heretofore/of Netteswell Bury, Esquire/To the Memory of/Thomas Crosse her Nephew (the son of/Robert Crosse of Westminster Esquire)/who died the 14th of August 1732 aged/38 Years: And of The said Robert Crosse her brother who died the 1st of/September 1741 aged 70 Years,/The said MARY MARTIN died the 8th/of October 1764 aged 97 Years./All three lie interred in the Vault belonging/to the Family of Crosse In the Parish/Church of St. Margaret Westminster.'
Gallery label
  • Probably by Sir Robert Taylor (1714–88) Monument to Thomas (1694–1732) and Robert Crosse (1671–1741) About 1745 The figure in mourning represents Mary Martin, who commissioned this monument in memory of her nephew and brother. Taylor was a successful architect who also designed memorials. He is believed to have made this monument as one of his numerous drawings closely resembles it. London Marble From the church of St Andrew, Netteswell, Essex(2021)
  • The mourning figure here represents Mary Martin, who erected the monument in memory of her nephew Thomas Crosse (1694-1732) and her brother Robert Crosse (1671-1741). The sculptor, Robert Taylor, was a successful architect who also designed funerary monuments. (13/10/2021)
Object history
From the south chancel of St Andrew's church, Netteswell, Essex. Given to the Museum in 1969 by the Rector and Churchwardens of St Stephen's Tye Green with St Andrew's Netteswell, Essex. The mourning figure is Mary Martin (b. 1667; d. 1764), at whose expense the monument was erected. The persons commemorated are her nephew and brother. The grey pyramid behind the figure sculpture is a modern copy, the original having been destroyed.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The mourning figure in this monument portrays Mary Martin (1667-1764), who erected the monument in memory of her nephew Thomas Crosse (1694-1732) and her brother Robert Crosse (1671-1741).

The sculptor, Robert Taylor (1714-1788), to whom this monument is attributed, was a highly successful architect, who also designed funerary monuments. Many of his designs are in the Taylorian Institute in Oxford, and one of these, with a medallion portrait, bears a close resemblance to this monument. He was the son of a master mason and monumental sculptor Robert Taylor. At the age of eighteen Robert Taylor junior was apprenticed to Henry Cheere, and following that he travelled to Rome to study. Following his father's death he got financial help from friends of his father, the Godfrey family of Woodford, which allowed him to set up business as sculptor. His most famous commissions were the sculpture in the pediment of the Mansion House of 1744, and the monument to Captain James Cornewall in Westminster Abbey of 1755. After about 1755 he concentrated more on his architectural practice.
Bibliographic references
  • Baker, Malcolm, 'De l'église au musée: les monuments du XVIIIe siècle, fonctions, significations et histoire', Sculptures hors contexte, Actes du Colloque international organisé au Musée du Louvre, 29th April 1944, Paris, 1996, pp. 80, 82, 87, fig. 2 and p. 92, fig. 13.
  • 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. pp. 158. cat. no. 214.
  • Baker, Malcolm. Figured in Marble. The Making and Viewing of Eighteenth Century Sculpture, London, 2000, p. 52, pl. 36 and p. 60, pl. 45.
Collection
Accession number
A.183-1969

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Record createdJune 28, 2000
Record URL
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