Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 118, The Wolfson Gallery

Bracket

ca. 1770-1830 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type

This plaster cast of an architectural detail from an ancient Roman building was acquired by the architect Decimus Burton, either in Rome or London. It is a bracket with acanthus and rosettes, cast from the original marble in the Vatican, Rome. Reproductions of classical architectural details were much sought after by architects in the early 19th century. Sir John Soane (1753-1837), for example, owned a large and important collection of casts, which were used as sources for his own designs.



People

Decimus Burton (1800-1881) was the tenth son of James Burton (1761-1837), a successful speculative builder and developer in London and south-east England. He received practical training in his father's office, and also attended the Royal Academy Schools. He began practising as an independent architect relatively early, briefly as a public architect, but then he increasingly concentrated on private commissions. He travelled extensively, both in North America and Europe.



Materials & Making

Plaster casts were especially sought after during the 19th century, when reproductions of great works of sculpture and architecture were thought crucial for the training of artists. A separating substance was applied to the surface of the work to be reproduced, and a plaster mould made from that. The mould would then be used to make any number of additional plaster copies. These were often sold to artists, and later in the century to art colleges for study purposes.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Plaster cast
Brief description
Bracket with acanthus and rosettes, after an original in the Vatican, Rome
Dimensions
  • Height: 27.94cm
  • Width: 17.78cm
  • Weight: 5kg
Dimensions checked: Registered Description; 01/01/1998 by KN
Gallery label
British Galleries: CASTS OF DETAILS OF CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE
By the end of the 18th century the main demand for casts or copies of architectural detail came from architects. Casts served as design sources and also impress demonstrated that the architect had received a proper classical education.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Given by Decimus Burton
Object history
After an original in the Vatican, Rome. Given by Decimus Burton (1800-1881) in 1879.
Summary
Object Type

This plaster cast of an architectural detail from an ancient Roman building was acquired by the architect Decimus Burton, either in Rome or London. It is a bracket with acanthus and rosettes, cast from the original marble in the Vatican, Rome. Reproductions of classical architectural details were much sought after by architects in the early 19th century. Sir John Soane (1753-1837), for example, owned a large and important collection of casts, which were used as sources for his own designs.



People

Decimus Burton (1800-1881) was the tenth son of James Burton (1761-1837), a successful speculative builder and developer in London and south-east England. He received practical training in his father's office, and also attended the Royal Academy Schools. He began practising as an independent architect relatively early, briefly as a public architect, but then he increasingly concentrated on private commissions. He travelled extensively, both in North America and Europe.



Materials & Making

Plaster casts were especially sought after during the 19th century, when reproductions of great works of sculpture and architecture were thought crucial for the training of artists. A separating substance was applied to the surface of the work to be reproduced, and a plaster mould made from that. The mould would then be used to make any number of additional plaster copies. These were often sold to artists, and later in the century to art colleges for study purposes.
Collection
Accession number
REPRO.1879B-105

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Record createdJune 3, 2003
Record URL
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