{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O67427"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O67427/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB7235/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB7235/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NB7235","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB7236","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM7882","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O67427/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O67427","accessionNumber":"A.3-1981","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Vulcan (or possibly Prometheus) chained to a rock","type":"popular title"}],"summaryDescription":"The figure is closely related to David's statue of <i>St Bartholomew</i> in the church of S. Maria di Carignano in Genoa, Italy. Malcolm Baker has suggested that it's one of the few free-standing sculptures of mythological figures to have been executed by a sculptor working in England in the first half of the 18th century'.\r\n\r\nAlthough traditionally thought to represent the mythical Prometheus, chained to a rock by the god Jupiter, the figure probably represents Vulcan. The diary of Sir Matthew Decker, who saw the piece in its original setting in 1728, provides an explanation of its symbolism. Placed on the landing half-way up the main staircase, the figure was intended to be accompanied by a further figure of William III, as part of an allegorical representation of how William's arrival in England and the Glorious Revolution of 1688 had averted a civil war. 'Vulcan is accordingly represented as chained, rather than fashioning the instruments of war.'","physicalDescription":"Vulcan is shown chained and manacled to a rock, with his tools, a hammer, pincers and an anvil.  He is bearded, looking upwards, almost naked except for a small piece of swirling drapery around his right leg.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"David, Claude","id":"A6237"},"association":{"text":"sculptor","id":"x43862"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"marble","id":"AAT11443"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Marble","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Myths & Legends","id":"THES49005"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2021NB7235","2021NB7236","2006AM7882"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"22 (VA)","id":"THES49843"},"free":"","case":"FS","shelf":"WS","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statue","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1710","earliest":"1705-01-01","latest":"1714-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased using funds from the John Webb Trust","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"86.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"181","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"figure and base","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This sculpture was originally on the staircase of Narford Hall in Norfolk. It was commissioned by Sir Andrew Fountaine. Purchased at the sale of the collection of Sir Andrew Fountaine, held at Sotheby's, Parke, Bernet&Co, London, on 11 December 1980, lot 221. There it was described as Prometheus. Bought for £4460 using funds from the John Webb Trust.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figure, marble, 'Vulcan (or Prometheus) chained to a rock', by Claude David, English, ca. 1710","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Whinney, Margaret, Sculpture in Britain 1530-1830. 2nd ed. London: Penguin, 1988","id":"AUTH401361"},"details":"p449, note 15.","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Moore, Andrew W,<i>Norfolk and the grand tour: eighteenth-century travellers abroad and their souvenirs</i>, Norwich, Norfolk Museums Service, 1985","id":"AUTH356747"},"details":"p31","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"C. Ceschi, <font -i>Monumenti della Liguria e la Guerra 1940-45</font -i>, Genoa, 1949, p51"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Malcolm Baker <font -i>Figured in Marble.  The Making and Viewing of Eighteenth-Century Sculpture</font -i>, London, 2000, p16, pl. 16"},{"reference":{"text":"Bilbey, Diane and Trusted, Marjorie, British Sculpture 1470-2000: A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: V&A Publications, 2002","id":"AUTH401363"},"details":"p. 71, cat.no 95","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Gunnis, R., <u>Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851</u>, (revised edition, first published London 1953), London, 1968, p. 121"},{"reference":{"text":"Atterbury, Paul, <i>Heavenly Bodies: Sculptural Responses to the Human Form</i>, Burghley House, Stamford, 2006","id":"AUTH353372"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"Although this sculpture was called 'Vulcan' in an early 18th century inventory, it may represent Prometheus, who was chained to a rock for stealing fire from the Gods.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Prometheus","id":"N154"},{"text":"Vulcan","id":"N232"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"rock","id":"AAT11692"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Claude David (active 1678–1722)\r\nVulcan (or Prometheus) Chained to a Rock\r\nAbout 1710\n\r\nAlthough the Greek Titan god Prometheus is usually shown chained to a rock, this sculpture is thought to show Vulcan, the blacksmith god, restrained from forging his weapons of war. The collector Andrew Fountaine commissioned the piece to accompany a portrait of William III. It is said that this was to represent William’s arrival in England and the Glorious Revolution of 1688 averting a civil war.\n\r\nLondon\r\nMarble\r\nCommissioned by Sir Andrew Fountaine (1676–1753) for Narford Hall, Norfolk","date":{"text":"2021","earliest":"2021-01-01","latest":"2021-12-31"}},{"text":"An early inventory describes the subject of this sculpture as Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods. He is usually shown chained to a rock and writhing in agony as an eagle feeds on his liver as punishment. However, it may depict the god of fire, Vulcan, with his tools. As a blacksmith, Vulcan forged weapons for the gods. ","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["A.3-1981"],"accessionNumberNum":"3","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1981,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN4715","2019LT1197","2019LU0303"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-12","recordCreationDate":"2002-09-13","availableToBook":false}}