Completed British 19th C, except portraits, Scotland: Artists and Subjects, Sculpture 39 Can anyone tell us more about this sculpture previously in the Glasgow Athenaeum?

The Collection have commented: ‘We’re afraid there isn’t any more information on this at present; it appears to be unsigned, although we believe it originally was placed above one of the old fireplaces in the Athenaeum Building. That could have been any time from 1888 onwards. We haven’t researched this item in our minute books; it’s commissioning, purchase or donation is likely to have been recorded which will no doubt proffer more information, but unfortunately that hasn’t yet been done.’ [It was transferred from the Buchanan Street premises, 1987. Note that the plaque in the background of one of the images for this sculpture relates to another work, not this one]

Stylistically this could be from any period between the 1880s to the 1920s (if by a highly conservative sculptor). A lead might come from the subject as it obviously commemorates a shipwreck which led to the loss of many lives. Could the occasion be the sinking of the SS Tuscania in February 1918 while carrying US troops to Europe? The ship had strong associations with Glasgow and even before its sinking had a certain hold over the popular imagination after the rescue of passengers and crew from a burning Greek steamer. Not being a naval historian myself, all this comes from Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Tuscania_{LPARENTHESES} 1914)

It reminds me of the work 'The Kiss of Victory' by Sir Alfred Gilbert, R. A. (1854-1934) that is shown on ‘The Victorian Web' website. https://victorianweb.org/sculpture/gilbert/15b.html

This is bound to be an allegorical work. John's link above (adapted to suit Art Detective) is here:

https://bit.ly/3H2GdZB

I tend to doubt this work is related to a shipwreck, since the Athenaeum would not have been an apt setting for that. It is more likely to be an allegory of immortality or fame, for instance.

The style looks very much like that of Henry Charles Fehr (1867-1940), who created the sculptures for a number of War Memorials in Colchester, Eastbourne, Lisburn, Lockerbie and Grangemouth.
The rather decadent, Art Nouveau style is typical of his work.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colchester_War_Memorial.JPG

Here is Fehr's wikipedia article, with a number of examples of his work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Charles_Fehr

The subject does suggest an allegorical commemoration of war dead and is reminiscent of war memorials post 1918. The base may even be intended to recall a British army steel helmet.

Could a more detailed image of the base of this stature, taken from photograph 4 of the Art UK selection, be posted?

Aghhhhhh - statue!

Kieran, here is I hope the area you wished to see. David

Many thanks David, though I should have been more clear. I was hoping to see the figures in what appears to be a river or flood flowing around the sphere/globe. If you have any good images of them from both sides of the bottom part of the statue I would welcome being able to see them.

Kieran, understood. I hope these help, David

Many thanks. It could be a play of the light or simply marks made by the sculptor when fashioning the base but I wonder if the area highlighted in the attached contains letters, possibly an A and N. If there is not a better hi-res image available at Art UK could the collection be asked to re-examine this part of the base to see if there is actually a name or initials present?

Wrong attachment!

Something is not right here. Once more will feeling!

Kieran

I will ask the Collection if they could check that area and take a photograph of the area - it will probably be more effective from that angle rather than trying to get a better quality version of this existing image.

Regards

David

Kieran

The Collection have kindly just taken a photograph, attached. They have added: 'Thank you for this discussion which is very interesting. Please find an image attached as requested.
We're afraid it’s a trick of the light - one can read all manner of shapes here but they aren’t visible to the eye and only pop out in photography. Our feeling is that it is a WWI memorial but I haven’t researched it yet.'

David

I'll try and get into the Conservatoire in the next week or so and have a look at the sculpture. It certainly has the air of a war memorial to me, drowning figures around a globe, on which a warrior is taken into the arms of an angel, but I agree that the 'drowning figures' need a closer look, and I'll peek round for a signature.

Andrew, many thanks, David

Compare to this:

https://bit.ly/364UYhv

Drury exhibited many times in Scotland, including Glasgow.

The attached composite may allow for an easier comparison.

John Gaves-Smith rightly mentioned the wreck of the troopship SS Tuscania in February 1918 off Islay on her way to Liverpool. There was also the troopship HMS Otranto, which was rammed by another ship in a storm in October 1918 and wrecked on Islay on her way to Glasgow with the loss of 500 lives. Despite much searching I have still not found any online record of his sculpture.

should be John Glaves-Smith

Apologies for typo.

Did Andrew (Greg) ever get to inspect this sculpture in situ? I assume the collection has not been able to research this piece in its minute books as to commissioning, purchase or donation, which of course might reveal what we want to know.

could it be by William Robert Colton, one of whose pieces is in Kelvingrove? see for his career Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture
It would be worth checking the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts [Billcliffe]

Unless a signature can be identified on the work, I expect we will not make significant progress until the collection examines its records.

It would also be worth checking Colson's exhibits at the Royal Scottish Academy.

There may be notes on this high class piece in the sculpture departmen of Glasgow Museums

see also A Whirlwind history of the Glasgow Athenaeum 18 January 2022 Glasgow City Heritage Trust by Karen-Malley Watt
The present building is listed
Joseph Sharples of the Hunterian Art Gallery may know about its contents
Note there are 2 buildings - the Athenaeum , and the adjoining Athenaeum Theatre - the latter closer in date to the style of this sculpture

i am sorry I have not yet been to look at this work in situ. The Royal Conservatoire seems to have inherited the archives of the Athenaeum so there may be something there. I will also contact Karen Malley-White.

The closest work that I could find is ‘Icarus’ by Sir Alfred Gilbert (1854–1934), dated 1882-1884.

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/gilbert-icarus-n04827

If there are no helpful minutes or documents, looking through the annual exhibtion catalogues of the main societies is surely the profitable way foward. For this or a related cast is likely to be identifiable . War bronzes of quality would normally have been exhibited

I have now studied this in situ and can find no trace of a signature or inscription anywhere. It's smaller than you might think, but beautifully modelled, anatomically sophisticated but with lovely sense of fingers in soft clay. It must be by someone known.

I attach photos of lower back side and other details. I will write to archivist and go to archives sometime.

Thank you, Andrew. I hope the archives prove fruitful.

I am sorry I have not been able to visit the Conservatoire's archives in time. This fine sculpture remains unattributed.