{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O172500"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O172500/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AL4163/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AL4163/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AL4163","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O172500/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O172500","accessionNumber":"955-1903","objectType":"Model","titles":[{"title":"Cherub head","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This is the original model by Alfred Stevens for the bronze cherubs in the soffit of the Wellington monument in St. Paul's Cathedral north aisle, where Wellington is buried. It depicts a six-winged cherub within a hollow Greek cross of slightly concave form.\r\n\r\nA sculptor, designer and painter, Alfred Stevens (1817/18-1875) 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. \r\n\r\nPerhaps 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.\r\n\r\nBorn in Dublin, 1st May 1769, died at Walmer Castle, Kent, 14th September 1852, Arthur Wellesley, later the 1st Duke of Wellington, was Britain's greatest military commander. His brilliant tactics and leadership brought about major victories over the French in the Peninsular War of 1808-1814 and, most famously, at Waterloo on 18 June 1815. The Duke then became a politician (Prime Minister from 1828-1830) and distinguished elder statesman.","physicalDescription":"A six-winged cherub within a hollow Greek cross of slightly concave form.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Alfred George Stevens","id":"N2559"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"plaster","id":"AAT14922"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Plaster","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AL4163"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"Y","id":"THES408157"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"Y","id":"THES408157"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Model","id":""}],[{"text":"Model","id":""}],[{"text":"wing","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1860 - ca. 1870","earliest":"1855-01-01","latest":"1874-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"530","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"1","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"366","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"1","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"100","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"1","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"6.6","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"1","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"235","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"2","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"20","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"2","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"95","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"2","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"2","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"2","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'HS'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"'For Hugh Stannus' is scratched into the surface."}],"objectHistory":"This is an original model for the bronze cherubs in the soffit of the Wellington monument.\r\nPurchased from Hugh Stannus.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Model, plaster, a cherub head, for the bronze cherubs in the soffit of the Wellington Monument, by Alfreg George Stevens, England, ca. 1860-70","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Inventory of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1903 - 1904. <u>In</u>: <u>List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1903, Arranged According to the Dates of  Acquisition with Appendix and Indices</u>. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Wyman and Sons, Limited, 1907, p. 165"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"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.380, cat. no. 584"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"cherubs","id":"AAT250465"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["955:1-1903","955:2-1903"],"accessionNumberNum":"955","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1903,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-19","recordCreationDate":"2008-11-14","availableToBook":false}}