Not currently on display at the V&A

Sir Thomas Armstrong CB (1833-1911)

Bust
1904 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Sir Thomas Armstrong was Director of Art in the Department of Science and Art of the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) between 1881 and 1898. On his death a memorial committee was set up to organise a suitable commemoration at the Museum. Committee members included former friends and colleagues, such as Sir Edward Poynter and Walter Crane. David McGill, a former South Kensington student, offered to present his bust of Armstrong to the Museum.

The bust had already been on loan to the Museum in 1905-1906, when it was described as 'an excellent portrait and a fine work of art', and the committee felt the bust would be a suitable memorial to Armstong if it were to be taken on permanently. They provided a suitable marble pedestal with the inscription: 'THOMAS ARMSTRONG C B. BORN 1833 DIED 1911. DIRECTOR FOR ART 1881-1898. PRESENTED BY FRIENDS IN RECOGNITION OF HIS WORK AS AN ARTIST: IN APPRECIATION OF HIS SERVICES TO EDUCATION IN ART: AND IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE HELP GIVEN BY HIM TO OTHER WORKERS.' The bust and pedestal were originally displayed to one side of the doorway of the Art Library (now the National Art Library). The bust alone is now displayed in the Reading Room of the National Art Library, together with busts of other former Directors of the Museum.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSir Thomas Armstrong CB (1833-1911) (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze, on green marble base
Brief description
Portrait bust, bronze on a green marble base, of Sir Thomas Armstrong, by David McGill, English ca. 1904
Dimensions
  • Height: 65cm (incl. base)
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'D M c G' (in the front right corner on the plaque at the base of the bust)
  • 'Thos Armstrong C:B/1904' (on the square plaque )
Credit line
Given by the artist
Object history
Given by the sculptor in 1912. Previously on loan to the Museum between 1905-6.
Subject depicted
Summary
Sir Thomas Armstrong was Director of Art in the Department of Science and Art of the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) between 1881 and 1898. On his death a memorial committee was set up to organise a suitable commemoration at the Museum. Committee members included former friends and colleagues, such as Sir Edward Poynter and Walter Crane. David McGill, a former South Kensington student, offered to present his bust of Armstrong to the Museum.

The bust had already been on loan to the Museum in 1905-1906, when it was described as 'an excellent portrait and a fine work of art', and the committee felt the bust would be a suitable memorial to Armstong if it were to be taken on permanently. They provided a suitable marble pedestal with the inscription: 'THOMAS ARMSTRONG C B. BORN 1833 DIED 1911. DIRECTOR FOR ART 1881-1898. PRESENTED BY FRIENDS IN RECOGNITION OF HIS WORK AS AN ARTIST: IN APPRECIATION OF HIS SERVICES TO EDUCATION IN ART: AND IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE HELP GIVEN BY HIM TO OTHER WORKERS.' The bust and pedestal were originally displayed to one side of the doorway of the Art Library (now the National Art Library). The bust alone is now displayed in the Reading Room of the National Art Library, together with busts of other former Directors of the Museum.
Bibliographic reference
Bilbey, Diane and Trusted Marjorie. British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2002, p. 461, cat. no. 750
Collection
Accession number
A.30-1912

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 10, 2002
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest