Bronze on stone base
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Chantrey Bequest
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sir-william-goscombe-john-1364" aria-label="More by Sir William Goscombe John" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Sir William Goscombe John</a>
A Boy at Play
Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1896
actions: postures and motions
balancing
boy
children
leisure and pastimes
male
nudes
people
playing
recreational activities
<p>This bronze sculpture shows a young boy involved in a popular game of knuckles, played with the back bones of sheep. The poise and skill required is demonstrated by his perfect balance. Welsh artist Goscombe John was interested in naturalism. The boy’s thin face and body, short hair and pose favour realism over a traditional classical style. His life and movement seem to defy death as represented by the bone.</p><p><em>Gallery label, October 2020</em></p>
sculpture bronze stone
19 April 2004 – 11 June 2006
2006-06-11
19 April 2004 – 11 June 2006
2006-06-11
2004-04-19
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2004-04-19
Cult of Youth
Collection based display
14 December 2012 – 26 September 2022
2022-09-26
10 December 2012 – 25 September 2022
2022-09-25
2012-12-10
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2012-12-14
Gallery 4
Collection based display
A Boy at Play
object: 1415 × 850 x1110 mm
Presented by the Trustees of the <a href="/search?gid=999999977" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Chantrey Bequest</a> 1896
<div class="text">
<p>This bronze sculpture shows a young boy involved in a popular game of knuckles, played with the back bones of sheep. The poise and skill required is demonstrated by his perfect balance. Welsh artist Goscombe John was interested in naturalism. The boy’s thin face and body, short hair and pose favour realism over a traditional classical style. His life and movement seem to defy death as represented by the bone.</p>
</div>

Display caption
2020-10-13T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><b>N01755</b> A BOY AT PLAY <i>c.</i> 1895
<br/> 
<br/>Inscr. ‘W. Goscombe John’ on back of base.
<br/>Bronze, 51 1/4×31 1/4×41 3/4 (130×79·5×106), on a Verdi di Prato marble base, 2 1/4×16×43 3/4 (5·5×40·5×111).
<br/>Chantrey Purchase from the artist 1896.
<br/><i>Exh:</i> R.A., 1896 (1811).
<br/><i>Lit:</i> M. H. Spielmann, <i>British Sculpture and Sculptors of To-day</i>, 1901, p.130, repr. p.131 (the plaster).
<br/><i>Repr:</i> <i>Royal Academy Pictures</i>, 1895, p.195 (the plaster, wrongly described as a marble); <i>Tate Gallery Illustrations</i>, 1928, pl.120.</p>
<p>First exhibited in <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/plaster-of-paris" title="Glossary definition for 'Plaster of Paris'"><span>plaster</span></a> at the R.A. in 1895 (1711).</p>
<p>The boy balancing himself on his left foot reaches forward with his right to touch a knuckle-bone standing on end in front of him; he must recover his position behind the line which he toes without putting his foot to the ground.</p>
<p>Another <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/m/metal" title="Glossary definition for 'Metal'"><span>bronze</span></a> <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/c/cast" title="Glossary definition for 'Cast'"><span>cast</span></a> is in the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, and there are smaller bronze versions at Manchester and Newport (Mon.).</p>
<p><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, <i>The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture</i>, London 1964, I
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-09-23T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
actions: postures and motions balancing boy children leisure and pastimes male nudes people playing recreational activities