Egyptian figure
Statuette
ca. 1800 (made)
ca. 1800 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This apparently Egyptian figure is an adaptation of a Roman marble made in the first century A.D and excavated from Hadrian's villa. The marble represents Hadrian's favourite, Antinous in Egyptian dress. Reproductions of this figure were made in many different materials in the early nineteenth century and became particularly popular following Napoleon's Egyptian campaign.
Shortly before this object was acquired it was associated by John Pope Hennessy, then Museum Director, with the Regency designer Thomas Hope. However the present statue differs in costume and appearance from the figures designed by Hope for his Egyptian room in Duchess St, and it is unlikely to be directly connected with his work.
Shortly before this object was acquired it was associated by John Pope Hennessy, then Museum Director, with the Regency designer Thomas Hope. However the present statue differs in costume and appearance from the figures designed by Hope for his Egyptian room in Duchess St, and it is unlikely to be directly connected with his work.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Egyptian figure (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Rosso antico marble |
| Brief description | Statuette of an Egyptian figure, marble (rosso antico), probably Italy, about 1800 |
| Physical description | A standing figure in Egyptian dress, left foot forward, and hands presenting a plaque. The figure is integrally part of a columnar structure with a flattened capital, which stands at its back, as if the use of the figure was for a bookend. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Label for 'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900', Gallery 101, de-canted March 2017:
'7
Two Egyptian Figures
About 1800
These apparently Egyptian figures are adaptations of a Roman marble of Antinous, the Emperor Hadrian's favourite, in Egyptian dress. The marble had been excavated at Hadrian's Villa. Although Johann Wincklemann, the leading theorist and writer on antique sculpture, had recognised the statue as Roman, most people thought it was Egyptian. It was much reproduced from the 1790s in many different materials.
Italy, probably Rome
Marble ('rosso antico')
Museum nos. A.4,5-1974
Bequeated by the 7th Duke of Wellington through the Art Fund'(09.06.2017) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by the 7th Duke of Wellington through Art Fund |
| Object history | Bequeathed by the seventh Duke of Wellington through the National Art-Collections Fund. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This apparently Egyptian figure is an adaptation of a Roman marble made in the first century A.D and excavated from Hadrian's villa. The marble represents Hadrian's favourite, Antinous in Egyptian dress. Reproductions of this figure were made in many different materials in the early nineteenth century and became particularly popular following Napoleon's Egyptian campaign. Shortly before this object was acquired it was associated by John Pope Hennessy, then Museum Director, with the Regency designer Thomas Hope. However the present statue differs in costume and appearance from the figures designed by Hope for his Egyptian room in Duchess St, and it is unlikely to be directly connected with his work. |
| Associated object | A.4-1974 (Set) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.5-1974 |
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| Record created | March 8, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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