Cupids as Caryatids thumbnail 1

Cupids as Caryatids

Relief
ca. 1730 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This terracotta relief together with its pendant (Mus.no. 7717-1863) were made as sketch models for a larger composition in marble; this may have been a doorway, a grand chimneypiece, or perhaps a monument. Part of the finished work is in the Museum's collection (A.4-1990).

Rysbrack was born in Antwerp, and trained in the Netherlands, but spent his working life in Britain. He was one of the most important sculptors active in this country in the first half of the 18th century, and specialised in portrait busts and funerary monuments. Although he never visited Italy, many of his works are clearly indebted to classical archetypes. His terracotta models are particularly fine, and are often virtually finished pieces in their own right. Here it is interesting to note the slight changes which took place between the design of the terracotta relief and the final marble, especially in the areas of the moulding.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCupids as Caryatids (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Terracotta in high relief
Brief description
Relief, terracotta, of two putti supporting an architrave, perhaps by John Michael Rysbrack, England, ca. 1730
Physical description
Terracotta relief made as a sketch for a larger composition in marble, either a doorway or a grand chimney-piece. Two almost naked putti support an architrave, each with one arm raised. There is a pilaster to the right of the putti.
Dimensions
  • Height: 42cm
Object history
Bought, 6l. 6s.
Subject depicted
Summary
This terracotta relief together with its pendant (Mus.no. 7717-1863) were made as sketch models for a larger composition in marble; this may have been a doorway, a grand chimneypiece, or perhaps a monument. Part of the finished work is in the Museum's collection (A.4-1990).

Rysbrack was born in Antwerp, and trained in the Netherlands, but spent his working life in Britain. He was one of the most important sculptors active in this country in the first half of the 18th century, and specialised in portrait busts and funerary monuments. Although he never visited Italy, many of his works are clearly indebted to classical archetypes. His terracotta models are particularly fine, and are often virtually finished pieces in their own right. Here it is interesting to note the slight changes which took place between the design of the terracotta relief and the final marble, especially in the areas of the moulding.
Associated object
7717-1863 (Pair)
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1863 In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 35
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. Text. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1932, p. 157
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume II: Text. Sixteenth to Twentieth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, p. 699
  • Bilbey, Diane and Trusted, Marjorie. British Sculpture 1470-2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, p.136, cat.no 186.
Collection
Accession number
7718-1863

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Record createdJune 28, 2000
Record URL
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