Female head blindfold, perhaps the Old Testament (former title)
Model
ca. 1910 (made)
ca. 1910 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This and A.12-1991 are a pair, intended to be placed at either side of a third element. It was formerly suggested that they represented the New Testament (A.12-1991) and Old Testament (A.13- 1991), because of the blindfold traditionally used in personnifications of the Old Testatment. The work for which these were models was previously unidentified. Professor Jason Edwards identified them in 2021 as models for Administration and blind Justice, for the monument to Richard John Seddon (1846-1906), New Zealand's Premier from 1893 to his death, in St Paul's Cathedral.
The monument, by George Frampton, was installed in February 1910. Sir George James Frampton (1860-1928) was an English sculptor, medallist and decorative artist. He worked in an architects office before being apprenticed to a firm of architectural masons. He studied modelling a the London School of Art under W.S. Frith, and in 1881 entered the Royal Academy Schools, where he won a gold medal and travelling scholarship in 1887. Like Lanteri he was involved in the exterior decoration of the Museum, executing the spandrel reliefs of Truth and Beauty above the Main Entrance. Frampton was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Academy in 1894 and exhibited regularly across Europe, contributing to the Munich and Vienna Secession movements.
The monument, by George Frampton, was installed in February 1910. Sir George James Frampton (1860-1928) was an English sculptor, medallist and decorative artist. He worked in an architects office before being apprenticed to a firm of architectural masons. He studied modelling a the London School of Art under W.S. Frith, and in 1881 entered the Royal Academy Schools, where he won a gold medal and travelling scholarship in 1887. Like Lanteri he was involved in the exterior decoration of the Museum, executing the spandrel reliefs of Truth and Beauty above the Main Entrance. Frampton was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Academy in 1894 and exhibited regularly across Europe, contributing to the Munich and Vienna Secession movements.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Plaster |
| Brief description | Model, plaster, female head blindfold, Blind Justice (formerly identified as perhaps the Old Testament), by George Frampton, English, before 1910. |
| Physical description | This is one of a pair of female heads. The face is blindfolded. The hair is held by a broad headband, and tied at the back in a luxuriant bun. The right side of the head is flattened, and a hole drilled in for a fixing. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by the late Meredith Frampton |
| Object history | This and A.12-1991 are a pair, intended to be placed at either side of a third element. It was formerly suggested that they represented the New Testament (A.12-1991) and Old Testament (A.13- 1991), because of the blindfold traditionally used in personnifications of the Old Testatment. The work for which these were models was previously unidentified. Professor Jason Edwards identified them in 2021 as models for Administration and blind Justice, for the monument to Richard John Seddon (1846-1906), New Zealand's Premier from 1893 to his death, in St Paul's Cathedral. Given by the late Meredith Frampton, son of the sculptor, in 1985, though not formally accessed until 1991. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This and A.12-1991 are a pair, intended to be placed at either side of a third element. It was formerly suggested that they represented the New Testament (A.12-1991) and Old Testament (A.13- 1991), because of the blindfold traditionally used in personnifications of the Old Testatment. The work for which these were models was previously unidentified. Professor Jason Edwards identified them in 2021 as models for Administration and blind Justice, for the monument to Richard John Seddon (1846-1906), New Zealand's Premier from 1893 to his death, in St Paul's Cathedral. The monument, by George Frampton, was installed in February 1910. Sir George James Frampton (1860-1928) was an English sculptor, medallist and decorative artist. He worked in an architects office before being apprenticed to a firm of architectural masons. He studied modelling a the London School of Art under W.S. Frith, and in 1881 entered the Royal Academy Schools, where he won a gold medal and travelling scholarship in 1887. Like Lanteri he was involved in the exterior decoration of the Museum, executing the spandrel reliefs of Truth and Beauty above the Main Entrance. Frampton was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Academy in 1894 and exhibited regularly across Europe, contributing to the Munich and Vienna Secession movements. |
| Associated object | A.12-1991 (Pair) |
| Bibliographic reference | Bilbey, Diane and Trusted, Marjorie. <u>British Sculpture 1470-2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum</u>. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, p. 269, cat.no. 411 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.13-1991 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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