Henry VIII
- Object:
- Place of origin:
England, Great Britain (made)
- Date:
ca. 1756 - ca. 1767 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Town, Robert (attributed to, made)
- Materials and Techniques:
Carved cannel coal with paste emerald fastening
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
- Download image
This bust, attributed to Robert Town (active 1756-1767), is made of the local seams of cannel, a fossilised material resembling jet, found in the coal seams near Wigan, Lancashire. A portrait medallion of Henry VIII in cannel coal of about 1755, also attributed to Town, is in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Physical description
Portrait of Henry VIII carved in cannel coal with paste emerald fastening to the ruff.
Place of Origin
England, Great Britain (made)
Date
ca. 1756 - ca. 1767 (made)
Artist/maker
Town, Robert (attributed to, made)
Materials and Techniques
Carved cannel coal with paste emerald fastening
Marks and inscriptions
'Ao DNI 1528' is inscribed on the back, however the bust is a historicising piece produced about 1756-67.' 'Anno Domini 1528'
Dimensions
Height: 42.5 cm, Width: 11.50 in
Object history note
Purchased from Mr P. Albert, London in 1870 for £20.
Descriptive line
Bust, carved cannel coal with paste emerald fastening, of Henry VIII, made by Robert Town, English, ca. 1756-1767; inscribed 1528
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Diane Bilbey with Marjorie Trusted. British sculpture 1470 to 2000 : a concise catalogue of the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London : V&A Publications, 2002, pp.159, cat. no. 215
List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1870, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition. London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O. p. 6.
Hugh, Tait. Cannel Carvings and Robert Town of Wiga. The Connoisseur. 158, 1965. pp. 92-99.
Leeuwenberg, Japp. Beeldhouwkunst in het Rijksmuseum. The Hague, 1973. p. 490. no. 855.
Exhibition History
Precious: Objects and Changing Values (The Millennium Galleries, Sheffield 02/04/2001-24/06/2001)
Materials
Cannel coal
Techniques
Carving
Subjects depicted
Henry VIII (King of England)
Categories
Portraits; Royalty; Sculpture
Collection code
SCP
