George Wallis FSA (1811-1891)
Bust
1889 (made)
1889 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
According to the obituary notice in the Art Journal (December 1891), George Wallis left the Birmingham School of Design in 1859 to join the staff of what was then the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A), where he became Keeper of the Art Collections from 1863 until just before his death in 1891. The obituarist noted that 'the present complete system of circulation of works of Art to provincial museums ... owes much to the late keeper of the Art division.'
Original acquisition information records that the Museum board was pleased to accept this bust as a gift from the subject's family 'in memorial of the valuable services rendered by Mr George Wallis to the Science and Art Department'. In a letter Wallis's children described the bust as 'a most admirable work and a striking likeness'. In British Sculpture and Sculptors of Today (1901) M. H. Spielmann recorded: 'In his portraiture Mr Toft is dexterous and quick, and his busts are life-like; it is that kind of work which pleases sitters, for, besides resemblance, there are character, refinement, and style.'
Original acquisition information records that the Museum board was pleased to accept this bust as a gift from the subject's family 'in memorial of the valuable services rendered by Mr George Wallis to the Science and Art Department'. In a letter Wallis's children described the bust as 'a most admirable work and a striking likeness'. In British Sculpture and Sculptors of Today (1901) M. H. Spielmann recorded: 'In his portraiture Mr Toft is dexterous and quick, and his busts are life-like; it is that kind of work which pleases sitters, for, besides resemblance, there are character, refinement, and style.'
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | George Wallis FSA (1811-1891) (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Terracotta |
| Brief description | Bust, terracotta, of George Wallis, F.S.A., by Albert A. Toft, England, 1889 |
| Physical description | Sitter, bearded and bald, looking slightly to his right. Signed. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'Albert Toft/1889' (on the back) |
| Credit line | Given by the executors of George Wallis, Esq., FSA, in accordance with the wishes of his children |
| Object history | Given by the executors of George Wallis Esq., F.S.A. in 1892 in accordance with the wishes of his children. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | According to the obituary notice in the Art Journal (December 1891), George Wallis left the Birmingham School of Design in 1859 to join the staff of what was then the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A), where he became Keeper of the Art Collections from 1863 until just before his death in 1891. The obituarist noted that 'the present complete system of circulation of works of Art to provincial museums ... owes much to the late keeper of the Art division.' Original acquisition information records that the Museum board was pleased to accept this bust as a gift from the subject's family 'in memorial of the valuable services rendered by Mr George Wallis to the Science and Art Department'. In a letter Wallis's children described the bust as 'a most admirable work and a striking likeness'. In British Sculpture and Sculptors of Today (1901) M. H. Spielmann recorded: 'In his portraiture Mr Toft is dexterous and quick, and his busts are life-like; it is that kind of work which pleases sitters, for, besides resemblance, there are character, refinement, and style.' |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | 2001 - Catalogue number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 30-1892 |
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| Record created | December 12, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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