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Image of Gallery in South Kensington

The Elephant.

Print
01/09/1829 (published)
Artist/Maker
Panormo, W. (artist)
Panormo, W. (etcher)
Kelly, Thomas (publisher)
Place of origin
London (published)

An elephant viewed in profile, facing to the left of the image.

Object details

Category
Prints
Object type
Print
TitleThe Elephant.
Materials and techniques
Etching print on paper
Printing Ink
Paper
Etching (Printing Process)
Brief description
'The Elephant. In the Collection of Mr. Wombwell'. An elephant viewed in profile. Etching print on paper. Drawn and etched by W. Panormo. Published by Thomas Kelly, London, 1829.
Physical description
An elephant viewed in profile, facing to the left of the image.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 20.9cm
  • Sheet width: 25.4-25.8cm
Measured by DH 01/11/2010
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'THE ELEPHANT.' (Title, central below image.)
  • 'In the Collection of Mr. Wombwell.' (Central, below title.)
  • 'W. Panormo del. et sculp.' (Below bottom-left corner of image.)
  • 'London : Published by Thomas Kelly, 17. Paternoster Row, Sep. 1,1829.' (Central, along bottom edge of sheet.)
Object history
The Mr. Wombwell referred to as owning the elephant depicted is very probably George Wombwell, the proprietor of a travelling menagerie that operated in Britain during the early 19th century.
Historical context
In 1849, George Wombwell's nephew William was killed by an elephant when the menagerie was at the Coventry Great Fair. The grave of William Wombwell (who was 25 when he died) is in London Road Cemetery, Coventry. His gravestone reads: 'To the memory of William Wombwell, nephew of Mr George Wombwell (Wild Beast Proprieter), he died on the 12th June 1849 aged 25. Sincerely respected by all who knew him.'

NB: There is no suggestion that the elephant depicted in this print was involved in the incident.
Subject depicted
Elephant
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
25016:801

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O633785/the-elephant-print-panormo-w/
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