Not currently on display at the V&A

Unknown man

Bust
ca. 1830 - ca. 1840 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Gott served his apprenticeship under John Flaxman between 1798 and 1802, and in 1805 enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools; in 1819 he won a gold medal at the Royal Academy for a group of Jacob Wrestling with an Angel. He exhibited at the British Institution in 1821 and 1822, and at the Royal Academy between 1820 and 1848. In 1822 he moved to Rome, where he stayed for the rest of his life, though he returned to Britain regularly to meet his patrons and gain commissions.

Gott produced a number of works containing groups of animals and children. T. F. Friedman, writing in the Dictionary of Art (1996), comments that 'Gott was never attracted by the austere neo-Greek style practised by Gibson and Richard James Wyatt: his sculpture is unheroic, pastoral, romantic.'


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleUnknown man (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Marble
Brief description
Bust, marble, Unknown Man, by Joseph Gott, English, made Rome, ca. 1830-40
Physical description
The sitter is portrayed bare-chested in the classical manner, his head turned slightly to his right. The bust is signed.
Dimensions
  • Height: 60.5cm
  • Weight: 47.6kg
Marks and inscriptions
'J GOTT Ft' (on the truncation at the back)
Object history
Bought for £2000, at Heim Gallery, Jermyn Street, London, in 1982.
Subject depicted
Summary
Gott served his apprenticeship under John Flaxman between 1798 and 1802, and in 1805 enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools; in 1819 he won a gold medal at the Royal Academy for a group of Jacob Wrestling with an Angel. He exhibited at the British Institution in 1821 and 1822, and at the Royal Academy between 1820 and 1848. In 1822 he moved to Rome, where he stayed for the rest of his life, though he returned to Britain regularly to meet his patrons and gain commissions.

Gott produced a number of works containing groups of animals and children. T. F. Friedman, writing in the Dictionary of Art (1996), comments that 'Gott was never attracted by the austere neo-Greek style practised by Gibson and Richard James Wyatt: his sculpture is unheroic, pastoral, romantic.'
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, 2002, p. 289, cat. no. 444
  • Gunnis, R., Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851, London, 1952, pp. 13-14
  • Friedman, T. F. and Stevens, T., Joseph Gott 1786-1860 Sculptor, exh. cat., Temple Newsam House, Leeds; Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool; Leeds, 1972, p. 47, no. G.75, and pl. 7
Collection
Accession number
A.16-1982

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 createdDecember 10, 2002
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest