Duncan's Horses devouring one another, from Macbeth thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Duncan's Horses devouring one another, from Macbeth

Group
ca. 1834 (made)
Artist/Maker
Lough, John Graham (sculptor)
Place of origin
England (made)

'Duncan's horses devouring one another', is by John Graham Lough and dates from about 1834. This subject is taken from Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'. Lough (1798-1876) was an English sculptor who entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1826. He was particularly interested in Shakespearean subjects. From 1834 to 1838 he worked in Rome, where he produced portraits influenced by the Neoclassical style. One of his best work is the monument to George Stephenson (1863) in Newcastle upon Tyne. Lough produced many ideal works on classical, historical and literary themes, including a series of marble statues of Shakespearean subjects.


Object details

Category
Sculpture
Object type
Group
TitleDuncan's Horses devouring one another, from Macbeth (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Group, bronze, Duncan's horses devouring one another, from Macbeth, by John Graham Lough, England, ca. 1834
Physical description
Group, bronze. Duncan's horses devouring one another (Macbeth, Act II., Scene 4.). Signed.
Dimensions
  • Height: 34cm
  • Diameter: 40cm
Marks and inscriptions
'J.C. Lough' (on the base)
Object history
Given by Miss bishop, 42 Harewood Square, London in 1889. Miss Bishop was the niece of Mrs Lough, the sculptor's wife. Documentation relating to the acquisiton of this group records that 'it was the wish of her [the donor's] aunt [Mrs Lough] that the bronze group of mad horses designed and executed by her late husband Mr John Graham Lough should be presented to the South Kensington Museum.'
Subject depicted
Horses
Literary referenceMacbeth
Summary
'Duncan's horses devouring one another', is by John Graham Lough and dates from about 1834. This subject is taken from Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'. Lough (1798-1876) was an English sculptor who entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1826. He was particularly interested in Shakespearean subjects. From 1834 to 1838 he worked in Rome, where he produced portraits influenced by the Neoclassical style. One of his best work is the monument to George Stephenson (1863) in Newcastle upon Tyne. Lough produced many ideal works on classical, historical and literary themes, including a series of marble statues of Shakespearean subjects.
Bibliographic references
  • The Athenaeum, June 30, 1832, p. 419
  • Lough, J and Merson, E., John Graham Lough 1798- 1876, Woodbridge, 1987, pp. 21, 57, 84, illustrated on dust jacket
  • Fusco, P. European Painting and Sculpture in the Los Angeles Museum of Art, Los Angeles, 1987, p. 143
  • 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. 323-4, cat. no. 491
  • Graves, A. The Royal Academy of Arts. A Complete Dictionary of Contributors and their work from its foundation in 1769 to 1904, V. East Earsdley, 1905-6, p. 94, no. 1159
  • Boase, T.S.R. 'John Graham Lough. A transitional sculptor.' Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, XXIII, 1960, pp. 279-80
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1889 London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1890. pp.11
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
92-1889

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Record createdOctober 6, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O168795/duncans-horses-devouring-one-another-group-lough-john-graham/
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