Not on display

George Gammon Adams (1821-1898)

Bust
ca. 1859-1898 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This bust shows a man with beard and moustache wearing a bow tie and a jacket with two buttons. A chest pocket holds tools that appear to be a sculptor's knife and scraping tool, although these are not clearly defined. This plaster bust may be a model for the marble self-portrait of the sculptor Adams. A similar variant in marble is also in the Museum's collections (inv. no. A.114-1980).

George Gammon Adams (b. 1821-1898) was a portrait sculptor and medallist. He designed and exhibited prize medals for the Great Exhibition. In 1852 he was chosen to model the death mask of Wellington. One of his public monuments is the 'Napier' statue in Trafalgar square.

The bust was among the items given to the Museum by I. D. Adams, the daughter of George Gammon Adams, in 1980. In total, 196 items were included in the Adams gift, which consisted of many models for medals as well as the busts and figurative sculpture. In most instances it is not possible to date conclusively the many models included in this gift.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleGeorge Gammon Adams (1821-1898) (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Plaster
Brief description
Bust, painted plaster, self portrait of Adams, by George Gammon Adams, England, ca. 1850-1898
Physical description
The bust shows a man with beard and moustache wearing a bow tie and jacket with two buttons. A chest pocket holds tools which appear to be a knife and scraping tool, though these are not clearly defined. The back of the bust is hollowed out.
Dimensions
  • Including socle height: 39.5cm
Credit line
Given by Miss I. D. Adams, daughter of the sculptor
Object history
Given by Miss I.D. Adams, daughter of George Gammon Adams in 1980.
This plaster bust may be a model for the marble self-portrait of Adams.
Subject depicted
Summary
This bust shows a man with beard and moustache wearing a bow tie and a jacket with two buttons. A chest pocket holds tools that appear to be a sculptor's knife and scraping tool, although these are not clearly defined. This plaster bust may be a model for the marble self-portrait of the sculptor Adams. A similar variant in marble is also in the Museum's collections (inv. no. A.114-1980).

George Gammon Adams (b. 1821-1898) was a portrait sculptor and medallist. He designed and exhibited prize medals for the Great Exhibition. In 1852 he was chosen to model the death mask of Wellington. One of his public monuments is the 'Napier' statue in Trafalgar square.

The bust was among the items given to the Museum by I. D. Adams, the daughter of George Gammon Adams, in 1980. In total, 196 items were included in the Adams gift, which consisted of many models for medals as well as the busts and figurative sculpture. In most instances it is not possible to date conclusively the many models included in this gift.
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. 175, cat. no. 242
  • Gunnis, R., Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851, London, 1952, pp. 13-14
  • Thieme-Becker, Allgemeines Lexikon…., Leipzig, 1982, p. 73-74
Collection
Accession number
A.130-1980

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Record createdMarch 3, 2003
Record URL
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