Cupid kindling the torch of Hymen thumbnail 1
Cupid kindling the torch of Hymen thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 22, The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Galleries

Cupid kindling the torch of Hymen

Group
ca. 1831 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This marble group 'Cupid kindling the torch on Hymen' is made by George Rennie (1802-1860) in England in ca. 1831. Cupid, the god of love, here holds the torch of Hymen, the god of marriage. This classical subject was typical of Rennie’s work; he studied under Bertel Thorvaldsen in Rome in the 1820s, and was much influenced by the Danish sculptor’s style, which echoed the sculpture of ancient Greece. Rennie supported the establishment of the Government School of Design in the 1840s, which was a forerunner of the Victoria and Albert Museum.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCupid kindling the torch of Hymen (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Marble
Brief description
Group, marble, Cupid kindling the torch of Hymen, by George Rennie, England, ca. 1831
Physical description
Statue, group in marble. Hymen, a naked youth wearing a chaplet of roses, stands with a torch in his right hand. With his left he embraces Cupid who stands beside him. Cupid rests his left hand on his bow and places his right on the shoulder of Hymen. He inclines his head to blow on the torch. The group is supported from the back by drapery which falls from Hymen's left arm on to an altar. Signed.
Dimensions
  • Weight: 298kg
  • Maximum base dimension width: 54cm
  • Maximum base dimension depth: 48cm
  • Approximate height: 154cm
Measured by RCribb 9/8/07
Marks and inscriptions
'GEORGE RENNIE.-FECIT' (on the left of base)
Gallery label
  • George Rennie (1802–60) Cupid Kindling the Torch of Hymen Signed, about 1831 Cupid, the winged god of love, blows on the torch held by Hymen, the god of marriage, to rekindle the flame of passion. Rennie was a Scottish sculptor and this classical subject is typical of his work. In the 1820s, Rennie studied under the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen in Rome, and was heavily influenced by his style, which echoed the sculpture of ancient Greece. London Marble(2021)
  • George Rennie 1802–60 Cupid Kindling the Touch of Hymen Signed, about 1831 Cupid, the winged god of love, here blows on the touch held by Hymen, the god of marriage, perhaps signifying the igniting of his passion. This classical subject was typical of Rennie’s work. He studied under Bertel Thorvaldsen in Rome in the 1820s, and was much influenced by the Danish sculptor’s style, which echoed the sculpture of the ancient Greece.
Credit line
Included in the sale of the collection of the sculptor held at Christies & Manson, London, in 1843. On loan to the Museum from 1868, and acquired in 1936.
Object history
Included in the sale of the collection of the sculptor held by Messrs Christie & Manson, King Street, London, on 9 June, lot 43. Originally on loan from W.H. Rennie Esq., 19 Victoria Street, Westminster, London from February 1868. From 1918 various attempts to contact the lender or its rightful successive owner failed; communication with a Brig. Gen. George A.P. Rennie during 1934 and 1936 suggested that no descendant could be found, and that the Museum should consider the group its own. The object was consequently registered by the Museum in 1936. Given by W.H Rennie, 1831.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This marble group 'Cupid kindling the torch on Hymen' is made by George Rennie (1802-1860) in England in ca. 1831. Cupid, the god of love, here holds the torch of Hymen, the god of marriage. This classical subject was typical of Rennie’s work; he studied under Bertel Thorvaldsen in Rome in the 1820s, and was much influenced by the Danish sculptor’s style, which echoed the sculpture of ancient Greece. Rennie supported the establishment of the Government School of Design in the 1840s, which was a forerunner of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Bibliographic references
  • Bilbey, Diane with Trusted, Marjorie. British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: V& A Publications, 2002, p. 350, cat. no. 526
  • Graves, A., The Royal Academy of Arts. A Complete Dictionary of Contributors and their work from its foundation in 1769 to 1904, (8 vols), 1905-1906, VI, p. 266, no. 1196
  • Gunnis, R., Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851, (revised edition, first published London 1953), London, 1968, p. 318
Collection
Accession number
A.22-1936

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Record createdJanuary 19, 2005
Record URL
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