{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O66225"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O66225/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB7244/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB7244/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NB7244","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR7150","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR7151","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR7152","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR7154","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR7155","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR7156","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O66225/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O66225","accessionNumber":"A.24-1941","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Ceres","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This oak figure of Ceres - the goddess of Agriculture - stands on a base in the form of a fountain, which represents the head of a river-god. This statue was originally purchased at a sale by Sir Henry Wellcome as a figure representing Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. This suggestion is plausible given her patronage of the arts and resemblance between the statue and contemporary portraits. \r\n\r\nIt has recently been suggested that Laurent Delvaux could be the sculptor of this piece as similar motifs of a radiating sun appear within other examples of his work.\n\nDelvaux (1696-1778) was trained in Antwerp under Pieter-Denis Plumier, with whom he was later to work in London alongside Peter Scheemakers on the monument of John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham in Westminster Abbey. Delvaux and Schneemakers went into partnership and executed monuments and some garden figures. In 1728 they lefty London for Rome where he remained until 1732, before returning to the Netherlands. While in Rome he executed a number of commissions for Italian and British patrons including John Russell 4th Duke of Bedford, who commissioned a number of works inspired by antique sculpture. He was appointed court sculptor in Brussels in 1733, and in 1734 settled in Nivelles where his workshop produced many religious works, including the monumental pulpit at St Bavo, Ghent. After 1750 he was employed by Charles of Lorraine (1712-1780), Governor of the Netherlands, to produce decorative work for his residences in Brussels, Tervuren and Mariemont.","physicalDescription":"Standing figure of Ceres holding a garland, with a floating mantle attatched to her shoulders.  The base is a carved plinth in the form of a mountain, and shows the head of a river god.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Delvaux, Laurent","id":"A7708"},"association":{"text":"possibly","id":"THES285217"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"oak","id":"AAT12264"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carved","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Oak figure made of several pieces, with the back hollowed out and wood slabs nailed over the opening.","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Myths & Legends","id":"THES49005"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2021NB7244","2015HR7150","2015HR7151","2015HR7152","2015HR7154","2015HR7155","2015HR7156"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"25 (VA)","id":"THES49837"},"free":"","case":"PL001","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statue ceres","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"},{"place":{"text":"Flanders (region)","id":"x36939"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"Early 18th century","earliest":"1700-01-01","latest":"1750-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Dr W.L.Hildburgh, F.S.A.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Weight","value":"121","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"figure","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"183","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"figure","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"114.5","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"base","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"61.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"base","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Said to have been bought privately at an unknown date for a small sum by Sir Henry Salomon Wellcome (1853-1936) as Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (1650-1744). Included in the Wellcome sale (no. 5), held by Harrods for Allsop & Co, on 14 March 1938, lot.108, where it was bought by 'Johnson' for 5£. Sold with the contents of  'The Museum', Finchingfield, Essex (the estate of Mr H.F. Ellis) on 10 June 1941, lot 424, on behalf of Mr Bowles, 96 Abbot Road, Poplar, where it was described <u>Queen Anne</u> by Grinling Gibbons. The figure was purchased from this sale by D. W.L. Hildburgh F.S.A for £21, and subsequently given to the Museum.\n\nHistorical significance: This figure is attributed to Laurent Delvaux who worked for aristocartic patrons in Britain as well as the Southern Netherlands.","historicalContext":"The figure would originally have decorated a great house, possibly as part of a series of Roman deities.","briefDescription":"Oak statue of Ceres, early 18th century, English/Flemish","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bilbey, Diane with Trusted, Marjorie.<u>British Sculptyre 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum.</u> London, 2002, p.74-5, cat. no. 100."}],"production":"Maker was a follower of Grinling Gibbons","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Ceres","id":"N285"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Possibly by Laurent Delvaux (1696-1778)\r\nCeres\r\nAbout 1720\r\nAs the goddess of Agriculture, this figure wears a headdress of flowers and wheat, and hold a similar garland. Its base is almost certainly copied from a marble fountain. The figure would originally have decorated a great house, possibly as part of  a series of Roman Deities. Delvaux worked for aristocratic patrons in Britain as well as the Southern Netherlands, so it is difficult to be certain where this sculpture was made,","date":{"text":"Nov.2010","earliest":"2010-01-01","latest":"2010-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["A.24-1941"],"accessionNumberNum":"24","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1941,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2015HR7209","2015HR7210"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-15","recordCreationDate":"2002-06-20","availableToBook":false}}