Not currently on display at the V&A

Chorus of singers

Relief
ca. 1831 (carved)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
York (made)

This relief is said to have been executed by an unidentified man in York. The subject is a rehearsal of the oratorio Judith composed by the violin virtuoso William De Fesch, with libretto by William Higgins. Judith was first performed in 1733 at Lincolns' Inn Fields in London. But this relief was made much later. It was probably executed soon after 1831, when the original Judith print by William Hogarth (1697-1764) was copy engraved by George Cruikshank (1792-1878). This view is strengthened by the style of the original frame into which the work is fastened.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Entertainment & Leisure
SCRAN
Object type
Relief
TitleChorus of singers (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Wood
Brief description
Relief, wood, Chorus of singers, unknown artist, England (probably York), ca. 1831
Dimensions
  • Height: 22.5cm
  • Width: 22.5cm
Credit line
Given by Frank Green, Esq.
Object history
Given by Frank Green, Esq. Treasurer's House, York in 1917.
Production
Based on an engraving by George Cruikshank (1792-1878) of 1831, taken from the original etching by William Hogarth (1697-1764) of 1732.
Subject depicted
Chorus
Summary
This relief is said to have been executed by an unidentified man in York. The subject is a rehearsal of the oratorio Judith composed by the violin virtuoso William De Fesch, with libretto by William Higgins. Judith was first performed in 1733 at Lincolns' Inn Fields in London. But this relief was made much later. It was probably executed soon after 1831, when the original Judith print by William Hogarth (1697-1764) was copy engraved by George Cruikshank (1792-1878). This view is strengthened by the style of the original frame into which the work is fastened.
Bibliographic references
  • Bilbey, Diane and Trusted Marjorie. British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2002, pp. 442-443, cat. no. 727
  • Review [1911-1938], Victoria & Albert Museum. Review of the Principal Acquisitions during the Year, London, 1917, p. 3
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.6-1917

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Record createdJanuary 13, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O72871/chorus-of-singers-relief-unknown/
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