Narcissus thumbnail 1
Narcissus thumbnail 2
+1
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 145

Narcissus

Figure
1846 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This parian figure is after the marble sculpture 'Narcissus' by John Gibson (1790-1866), now in the Royal Academy of Arts, London. In Greek mythology Narcissus was a handsome youth who spurned many suitors only to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool, eventually dying inconsolate.

This figure was commissioned by the Art Union of London, an organisation established in 1836 for the encouragement of British artists and the improvement of public taste in matters of the arts. The Union had an annual subscription rate for which each subscriber received an engraving of a painting, and also the chance of winning a prize picture or sculpture.

Parian-ware, a matt white porcelain developed in the 1840s, recalled the sheen and translucency of the marble of classical sculpture and was widely used for decorative figures.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleNarcissus (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Parian ware
Brief description
Figure of 'Narcissus', 'Parian' ware, after a statue by John Gibson, made by Copeland, Stoke-on-Trent, 1846
Physical description
'Parian ware' figure of Narcissus. Nude figure of a boy seated on a rock and bending forward, with a pipe in his left hand.
Dimensions
  • Height: 30.2cm
  • Width: 24.2cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • NARCISSUS BY GIBSON R.A. Modelled by E.B. STEPHEN and executed in STATUARY PORCELAIN BY COPELAND FOR THE ART UNION OF LONDON 1846' (Printed in red on underside)
  • Copeland (incised)
Credit line
Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street
Object history
Given by Alderman Copeland. Transferred from Jermyn Street Collection.
Production
After a statue by John Gibson.
Subject depicted
Summary
This parian figure is after the marble sculpture 'Narcissus' by John Gibson (1790-1866), now in the Royal Academy of Arts, London. In Greek mythology Narcissus was a handsome youth who spurned many suitors only to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool, eventually dying inconsolate.

This figure was commissioned by the Art Union of London, an organisation established in 1836 for the encouragement of British artists and the improvement of public taste in matters of the arts. The Union had an annual subscription rate for which each subscriber received an engraving of a painting, and also the chance of winning a prize picture or sculpture.

Parian-ware, a matt white porcelain developed in the 1840s, recalled the sheen and translucency of the marble of classical sculpture and was widely used for decorative figures.
Bibliographic reference
Smith, Alison (ed.), Exposed : the Victorian nude. London : Tate Publishing, 2001 no. 45
Collection
Accession number
2789-1901

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

Record createdOctober 28, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest