The Artist's Daughter thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 21a, The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Galleries

The Artist's Daughter

Portrait Medallion
ca. 1872 (made)
Artist/Maker
Westmacott, James Sherwood (sculptor)
Place of origin
England (made)

The subject of this enigmatic portrait is probably Constance, a daughter of the sculptor. A relief described as '"Constance" medallion' was exhibited by the sculptor at the Royal Academy in 1872. This work had been in the Westmacott family since it was made and was donated by the daughter of the sitter. James Sherwood Westmacott (1823 - 1900) was a member of the Westmacott dynasty of sculptors active in the late 18th and early 19th century, and carved several reliefs in this distinctive style. He was the son of the sculptor Henry Westmacott. Among his chief works are a 'Victory' statue at Dresden and a statue of 'Peri' and of 'Alfred the Great'.





Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Portraits
Object type
Portrait medallion
TitleThe Artist's Daughter (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Marble
Marble
Brief description
Medallion, relief, marble, 'The Artist's Daughter', possibly Constance Westmacott, by James Sherwood Westmacott, England, ca. 1872
Physical description
Relief of a young woman who is portrayed with long hair spread out like a halo around her head in the oval medallion. There is a stain in marble under her left eye, and a small chip to the left of her chin.
Dimensions
  • Height: 40cm
  • Width: 34.4cm (Inner oval frame)
  • Weight: 34kg
Gallery label
  • James Sherwood Westmacott (1823–1900) The artist’s daughter About 1870 The subject of this enigmatic portrait is thought to be Constance, one of the sculptor’s daughters. He exhibited a ‘Constance’ medallion at the Royal Academy in 1872 which is likely to be this one. Dierent generations of the Westmacott family worked as sculptors in London in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. London Marble(2021)
  • The subject of this enigmatic portrait may be Constance, a daughter of the sculptor. James Sherwood Westmacott exhibited a 'Constance' medallion at the Royal Academy in 1872. He was a member of the Westmacott dynasty of sculptors who worked in London in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. (13/10/2021)
Credit line
Given by Mr H. Barrs-Davies, a descendant of the sculptor
Object history
By descent from the artist, who was the donor's grandfather, and the sitter's father. Given by Mr H Barrs- Davies, Gloucestershire, in 1968.
Subject depicted
Girl
Summary
The subject of this enigmatic portrait is probably Constance, a daughter of the sculptor. A relief described as '"Constance" medallion' was exhibited by the sculptor at the Royal Academy in 1872. This work had been in the Westmacott family since it was made and was donated by the daughter of the sitter. James Sherwood Westmacott (1823 - 1900) was a member of the Westmacott dynasty of sculptors active in the late 18th and early 19th century, and carved several reliefs in this distinctive style. He was the son of the sculptor Henry Westmacott. Among his chief works are a 'Victory' statue at Dresden and a statue of 'Peri' and of 'Alfred the Great'.



Bibliographic references
  • R. Gunnis, Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1857, London, 1953, pp. 422-3
  • 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, p. 429, cat. no. 702
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.12-1968

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Record createdSeptember 13, 2002
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O67426/the-artists-daughter-portrait-medallion-westmacott-james-sherwood/
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