{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O312108"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O312108/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O312108","accessionNumber":"A.30-1911","objectType":"Capital","titles":[{"title":"Corinthian Capital","type":"named collection"}],"summaryDescription":"This is a model for a Corinthian capital in two pieces for the Wellington monument in St. Paul's Cathedral.\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. 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. \r\nThe influence of the Italian Renaissance is evident in much of Steven's work, and is perhaps best reflected in the Wellington monument.\n\nAlthough 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.","physicalDescription":"A Corinthian capital in two pieces. From the top of a circular pillar spring acanthus leaves and palmettes bearing volutes which support the curvilinear abacus.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Stevens, Alfred George","id":"A8886"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"plaster","id":"AAT14922"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Plaster cast","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Architecture","id":"THES48993"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES397872"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES397872"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Capital","id":""}],[{"text":"Sketch Model","id":""}],[{"text":"Capital","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"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":"39","unit":"cm","qualifier":"max","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"39.37","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from Mrs Ada Gamble, London, together with a range of other objects by Stevens, for £175. Mrs Gamble was the widow of James Gamble, a pupil of Stevens, who had a large collection of designs and drawings by his former master.\r\n","historicalContext":"This is a model for a Corinthian capital in two pieces for the Wellington monument.","briefDescription":"Sketch model, plaster cast, for a Corinthian capital for the Wellington monument in St. Paul's Cathedral, from a sketch by Alfred Stevens, English, ca. 1860-1870","bibliographicReferences":[{"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, pp. 382-3, cat. no. 598, 599"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>Review of the Principal Acquisitions during  the year 1911</u>, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, published under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, pp. 6-7"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"acanthus","id":"AAT164902"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.30-1911","A.30A-1911"],"accessionNumberNum":"30","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1911,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Capital [1]","Capital [2]"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-02","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}