{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O312998"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O312998/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018KN9976/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018KN9976/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2018KN9976","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O312998/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O312998","accessionNumber":"A.3-1955","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"Edmund Spenser","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This statuette in bronze represents the English poet Edmund Spenser (1552/-1599) and is perhaps made by John Cheere.\r\n\r\nThis is one of a series of statuettes of historical figures or Worthies produces in lead by John Cheere. Ten such subjects, represented in the bronzed plasters formerly at Kirkleatham Hall, Yorkshire, and now owned by the Castle Museum, York, include Spenser, Homer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Pope, Newton, Inigo Jones, Locke, Milton and Shakespeare.\r\nThough statuettes of Rubens, Van Dyck and Inigo Jones are inscribed 'Cheere ft 1749', they are in fact identical with models known to have been executed by John Michael Rysbrack. The fact that these statuettes are inscribed Cheere may only signify that he obtained models or moulds, from which he produced plaster versions, and it is therefore also possible that the remaining signed 'Cheere' plasters were also based on models by others.\r\nThe influence of Peter Scheemaker's memorial in Westminster Abbey was such that the pose seen here became almost de rigueur for British poets.\nJohn Cheere (1709-1787) is the younger brother of the sculptor Sir Henry Cheere and was apprenticed to a haberdasher for a period of seven years from 1725, but later joined his brother's studio. He is most noted for the production of lead figures, which he executed at his own studio at Hyde Park Corner from 1737. Cheere seems to have taken over the yard previously occupied by the Nost family. He also produced plaster figures and busts of eminent contemporaries, including those made for the Turner family at Kirkleatham.","physicalDescription":"The poet, who is wearing Vandyck costume, stands with his weight on the right foot. The left knee is bent and he leans with the left elbow on a pile of three books, arranged irregularly on the top of a pedestal, placing his left forefinger pensively behind his ear. With his right hand he holds up his cloak. The pedestal is ornamented with a crown, a sceptre, a parchment, a plume and a garland of laurel.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Cheere, John","id":"A8240"},"association":{"text":"possibly","id":"THES285217"},"note":"sculptor"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lead","id":"AAT11022"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lead","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Portraits","id":"THES48906"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2018KN9976"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES409845"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statuette","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1749","earliest":"1744-01-01","latest":"1753-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"51","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased by Belham (presumably on behalf of  Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A) for £50 together with Mus. no A.4-1955, from the sale held at Sotheby's, London, on 29 May 1953, lot no. 3, there unattributed and incorrectly identified as Shakespeare and Milton. On loan to the Museum from Dr. Hildburgh from 25 June 1953. Given by Hildburgh in 1955.\n\nHistorical significance: This is one of a series of statuettes of historical figures or Worthies produces in lead by John Cheere. Ten such subjects, represented in the bronzed plasters formerly at Kirkleatham Hall, Yorkshire, and now owned by the Castle Museum, York, include Spenser, Homer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Pope, Newton, Inigo Jones, Locke, Milton and Shakespeare.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Statuette, lead, Edmund Spenser, English, perhaps by John Cheere, ca. 1749","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Friedman, T. F., 'John Cheer's Busts and Statuettes from Kirkleatham Hall', in: <u>Preview</u>, City of York Art Gallery Quarterly, XXVI, July, no. 103"},{"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. 66, cat.no 89"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Spenser, Edmund","id":"N10046"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"column","id":"AAT1571"},{"text":"books","id":"AAT28051"},{"text":"laurel","id":"x44943"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.3-1955"],"accessionNumberNum":"3","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1955,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-20","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}