{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O73007"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O73007/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM6370/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM6370/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM6370","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O73007/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O73007","accessionNumber":"A.21-1945","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"Lion","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This bronze is copied from a model made by Stevens in about 1852 for the seated lions he cast for tops of the dwarf posts by the entrance lodges outside London's British Museum. According to one admirer, 'the number of imitations of this lion by other artists is their sincerest tribute; and technically it is equally a triumph for Stevens in the small number (20) of pieces which are necessary in the mould for casting it'. Armstrong commented, 'They display, perhaps, the nearest approach to the Gothic spirit of which Stevens was capable (Armstrong 1881, p. 15). The lions are no longer in position, having been removed in 1896 to railings outside the Charles Holden part of the Law Society building in Chancery Lane. Others were placed on the railings around the Wellington monument in St Paul's Cathedral, London after Stevens's death, between 1892 and 1912, when the tomb was removed from the Consistory Chapel in St Paul's. Two further plaster versions of the British Museum lion figure were acquired by the Museum in 1975 from the Tate Gallery, London.\n\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 &amp; 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.\r\n","physicalDescription":"A seated lion.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Stevens, Alfred George","id":"A8886"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Bronze","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AM6370"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES396152"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statuette","id":"x45409"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1852","earliest":"1847-01-01","latest":"1856-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Miss Florence Steele in memory of Lewis F. Day, Esq.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"35","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bought by Lewis F. Day from the sale of Alfred Stevens's effects, Robinson and Fisher, 19 and 20 July 1877, lot 122, for £4 5s. Bequeathed by the widow of Lewis F. Day to Miss Florence H. Steele. Given by Miss Florence Steele, Geranium Cottage, Reigate, in memory of Lewis F. Day, Esq. in 1945.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Statuette, bronze, a lion, by Alfred Stevens, England, ca. 1852","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bilbey, Diane with Trusted, Marjorie, <u>British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum</u>, London, 2002, p. 403, cat. no. 654"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Towndrow, K. R., <u>Alfred Stevens</u>, London, 1939, fig. 18"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Armstrong, W., <u>Alfred Stevens. A biographical study</u>, London, 1881, p. 15"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Droth, Martina, Edwards, Jason, and Hatt, Michael, <u>Sculpture Victorious: Art in an Age of Invention, 1837-1901</u>, exh. cat., YUP, New Haven and London, 2015, pp. 355-361"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.21-1945"],"accessionNumberNum":"21","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1945,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-13","recordCreationDate":"2003-01-14","availableToBook":true}}