Not currently on display at the V&A

Literature, Art and Science

Relief
before 1896 (carved)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This relief, together with Mus. nos. A.5 and 7-1964, originally formed part of a large hooded fireplace in black marble, inset with two bronze plaques and the three marble reliefs. Frampton produced the fireplace for the Imperial Institute (later the Commonwealth Institute), London, which gave the reliefs to the Museum in 1964. There is no further record of the bronze plaques: they were presumably removed at the same time as the relief panels but did not form part of the Institute's gift to the Museum.

In an interview given to the journal Studio in 1896, Frampton commented: 'I have certainly done a good deal of interior work, both in churches and public buildings ... I have also done some fireplaces and other work at the Imperial Institute.'

Sir George James Frampton (1860-1928) was an English sculptor, medallist and decorative artist. He worked in an architects office before being apprenticed to a firm of architectural masons. He studied modelling a the London School of Art under W.S. Frith, attended the Royal Academy Schools. Like Lanteri he was involved in the exterior decoration of the Museum, executing the spandrel reliefs of Truth and Beauty above the Main Entrance.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleLiterature, Art and Science (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Marble
Brief description
Relief, marble, allegory of Literature, Art & Science, by Sir George James Frampton, England, before 1896
Physical description
Three naked female figures sitting. On the left Literature reading, in the middle and facing the viewer Art and on the right Science. Inscribed.
Dimensions
  • Height: 41cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'LITERTVRE' (left)
  • 'ART' (in the middle)
  • 'SCIENCE' (on the right)
Credit line
Given by the Commonwealth Institute, formerly the Imperial Institute
Object history
Given by the Commonwealth Institute, formerly the Imperial Institute, in 1964, together with A.5-1964 and A.7-1964.
Historical context
This and the related objects originally formed part of a large hooded fireplace in black marble inset with two bronze plaques, and the three marble reliefs catalogued here, which was produced by Frampton for the Imperial Institute (later the Commonwealth Institute), London, from whom they were given to the Museum in 1964. There is no further record of the bronze plaques - presumably removed at the same time as the present panels - though they did not form part of the gift to the Museum from the Commonwealth Institute in 1964.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This relief, together with Mus. nos. A.5 and 7-1964, originally formed part of a large hooded fireplace in black marble, inset with two bronze plaques and the three marble reliefs. Frampton produced the fireplace for the Imperial Institute (later the Commonwealth Institute), London, which gave the reliefs to the Museum in 1964. There is no further record of the bronze plaques: they were presumably removed at the same time as the relief panels but did not form part of the Institute's gift to the Museum.

In an interview given to the journal Studio in 1896, Frampton commented: 'I have certainly done a good deal of interior work, both in churches and public buildings ... I have also done some fireplaces and other work at the Imperial Institute.'

Sir George James Frampton (1860-1928) was an English sculptor, medallist and decorative artist. He worked in an architects office before being apprenticed to a firm of architectural masons. He studied modelling a the London School of Art under W.S. Frith, attended the Royal Academy Schools. Like Lanteri he was involved in the exterior decoration of the Museum, executing the spandrel reliefs of Truth and Beauty above the Main Entrance.
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Bilbey, Diane with Trusted, Marjorie, British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2002, p. 264, cat. no. 398
Collection
Accession number
A.6-1964

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Record createdDecember 11, 2002
Record URL
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