Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658)
Bust
1762 (made)
1762 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) was often represented in 18th-century British sculpture because of his central role in British history. This bust is probably based on a plaster cast of his face, made for his funeral effigy. It also shows Wilton's interest in and understanding of ancient Roman sculpture, which he had studied in Italy.
Cromwell is here represented as a military man with a breastplate ornated with lions and a Medusa head. The Medusa head was a common ornament on armours. It recalls the legend of Perseus killing the fearsome monster, Medusa, whose gaze had turned her enemies to stone. Perseus presented Medusa's head to Athena, Goddess of War, who fixed it to her shield so that it faced her enemies.
Joseph Wilton (1722-1803) was born in London, but trained in the Netherlands, France and Italy from 1744 to 1755. He was appointed Statuary to His Majesty George III in 1761, and in 1768 became a founder member of the Royal Academy. However in the same year he inherited a large legacy from his father and neglected sculpture thereafter; he went bankrupt in 1793.
Cromwell is here represented as a military man with a breastplate ornated with lions and a Medusa head. The Medusa head was a common ornament on armours. It recalls the legend of Perseus killing the fearsome monster, Medusa, whose gaze had turned her enemies to stone. Perseus presented Medusa's head to Athena, Goddess of War, who fixed it to her shield so that it faced her enemies.
Joseph Wilton (1722-1803) was born in London, but trained in the Netherlands, France and Italy from 1744 to 1755. He was appointed Statuary to His Majesty George III in 1761, and in 1768 became a founder member of the Royal Academy. However in the same year he inherited a large legacy from his father and neglected sculpture thereafter; he went bankrupt in 1793.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Marble |
Brief description | Bust, marble, of Oliver Cromwell, by Joseph Wilton, English, 1762 |
Physical description | The sitter, who wears a cuirass, adorned with lions in relief on the shoulders and a Medusa head on the breast, turned his hand sharply to the right. His thinning hair falls in curls to his shoulder. |
Dimensions |
|
Marks and inscriptions | 'OPUS./ JOSEPHI WILTON 1762' |
Gallery label |
|
Credit line | Formerly in the Lansdowne collection |
Object history | Purchased by the Museum from Alfred Spero, London, in 1930, for £70. |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) was often represented in 18th-century British sculpture because of his central role in British history. This bust is probably based on a plaster cast of his face, made for his funeral effigy. It also shows Wilton's interest in and understanding of ancient Roman sculpture, which he had studied in Italy. Cromwell is here represented as a military man with a breastplate ornated with lions and a Medusa head. The Medusa head was a common ornament on armours. It recalls the legend of Perseus killing the fearsome monster, Medusa, whose gaze had turned her enemies to stone. Perseus presented Medusa's head to Athena, Goddess of War, who fixed it to her shield so that it faced her enemies. Joseph Wilton (1722-1803) was born in London, but trained in the Netherlands, France and Italy from 1744 to 1755. He was appointed Statuary to His Majesty George III in 1761, and in 1768 became a founder member of the Royal Academy. However in the same year he inherited a large legacy from his father and neglected sculpture thereafter; he went bankrupt in 1793. |
Associated object | A.72-1965 (Original) |
Bibliographic references |
|
Collection | |
Accession number | A.32-1930 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | August 14, 2006 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest