Not currently on display at the V&A

Young Woman

Head
1950 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This bronze bust, made after Alfred Stevens, was commissioned in 1950 by the Trustees of the Tate Gallery and was cast after the plaster model held by the Tate for Valour and Truth, the figures of Virtues at the Wellington Monument.
A sculptor, designer and painter, Alfred Stevens rejected contemporary distinctions between fine art and design. From 1850 to 1857 he was chief designer to Hoole & Co., Sheffield, where he produced award-winning designs for metalwork, majolica, terracotta ornaments and chimney-pieces. Perhaps his two greatest works were the decorations for the dining-room at Dorchester House, London (about 1856), for which he made countless drawings inspired by the Italian High Renaissance style, in particular the work of Michelangelo and the monument to the Duke of Wellington for St Paul's Cathedral, London, which was completed after his death. The two allegorical groups from this monument made a lasting impact on the New Sculpture movement.
The influence of the Italian Renaissance is evident in much of Steven's work, and is perhaps best reflected in the Wellington monument.

Although Stevens came equal fifth in the competition for the Wellington monument, the winner being the Scots sculptor William Calder Marshall (1813-1894), he was eventually given the commission as his design was felt to be more in keeping with the interior of St Paul's.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleYoung Woman (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Bust, bronze, a Young Woman, after a design by Alfred Stevens, English, 1950 (original ca. 1866)
Physical description
The head of a young woman is shown looking to her right resting on a circular moulded pedestal. This bronze was cast in 1950 by order of the Trustees of the Tate Gallery after the plaster model for the Virtues of the Wellington Monument in St. Paul's Cathedral.
Dimensions
  • Height: 41cm
Credit line
Presented by Art Fund
Object history
Transferred from the Tate Gallery in 1975. The bust was commissioned in 1950 by the Trustees of the Tate Gallery, cast after the plaster model held by the Tate for Valour and Truth, the figures of Virtues at the Wellington Monument.
Summary
This bronze bust, made after Alfred Stevens, was commissioned in 1950 by the Trustees of the Tate Gallery and was cast after the plaster model held by the Tate for Valour and Truth, the figures of Virtues at the Wellington Monument.
A sculptor, designer and painter, Alfred Stevens rejected contemporary distinctions between fine art and design. From 1850 to 1857 he was chief designer to Hoole & Co., Sheffield, where he produced award-winning designs for metalwork, majolica, terracotta ornaments and chimney-pieces. Perhaps his two greatest works were the decorations for the dining-room at Dorchester House, London (about 1856), for which he made countless drawings inspired by the Italian High Renaissance style, in particular the work of Michelangelo and the monument to the Duke of Wellington for St Paul's Cathedral, London, which was completed after his death. The two allegorical groups from this monument made a lasting impact on the New Sculpture movement.
The influence of the Italian Renaissance is evident in much of Steven's work, and is perhaps best reflected in the Wellington monument.

Although Stevens came equal fifth in the competition for the Wellington monument, the winner being the Scots sculptor William Calder Marshall (1813-1894), he was eventually given the commission as his design was felt to be more in keeping with the interior of St Paul's.
Bibliographic references
  • Bilbey, Diane and Trusted, Marjorie. British Sculpture 1470-2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, pp. 384-5, cat. no. 604
  • Handley-Read, Lavinia, British Sculpture: 1850-1914, London: E.C. Freeman, 1968.
Collection
Accession number
A.24-1975

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 createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest