Marble
Tate Collection
Works with images
Works on loan
General Collection
Chantrey Bequest
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/albert-toft-2051" aria-label="More by Albert Toft" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Albert Toft</a>
Bather
Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1915
actions: postures and motions
adults
bathing / swimming
bending forward
cloth
female
leisure and pastimes
miscellaneous
nudes
objects
people
recreational activities
standing
woman
<p>Toft grew up in Birmingham, and was a modeller for pottery before studying at the Royal College of Art under Professor Lantéri. He was a constant exhibitor at the Royal Academy from 1885 to 1947. He was not successful with the art establishment, and was already in his fifties when this 'Bather' was accepted for the Chantrey Collection. He was never even an Associate of the Academy, and his earlier more symbolist sculpture was not acquired by the Tate Gallery.A critic in Studio Magazine described this work as 'subtly yet powerfully modelled, despite its suavity', and complained about the lack of realism in the contemporary 'ultra modern school', who thought that their creations were better than God's.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
sculpture marble
1 January 2001
1 August 2009 – 28 February 2027
2027-02-28
2009-08-01
Victoria and Albert Museum (London, UK)
http://www.vam.ac.uk
2001-01-01
Long loan to V&A
Loan-out
1 July 2006 – 30 June 2009
2009-06-30
30 October 2006 – 30 June 2009
2009-06-30
2006-10-30
Victoria and Albert Museum (London, UK)
http://www.vam.ac.uk
2006-07-01
Victoria & Albert Museum
Loan-out
The Bather
object: 1930 × 685 × 650 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> 1915
<p>Toft grew up in Birmingham, and was a modeller for pottery before studying at the Royal College of Art under Professor Lantéri. He was a constant exhibitor at the Royal Academy from 1885 to 1947. He was not successful with the art establishment, and was already in his fifties when this 'Bather' was accepted for the Chantrey Collection. He was never even an Associate of the Academy, and his earlier more <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/s/symbolism" title="Glossary definition for 'Symbolism'"><span>symbolist</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/s/sculpture" title="Glossary definition for 'Sculpture'"><span>sculpture</span></a> was not acquired by the Tate Gallery.<br/>A critic in Studio Magazine described this work as 'subtly yet powerfully modelled, despite its suavity', and complained about the lack of <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/r/realism" title="Glossary definition for 'Realism'"><span>realism</span></a> in the contemporary 'ultra modern school', who thought that their creations were better than God's.</p>
Display caption
2004-08-18T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><b>N03030</b> THE BATHER 1915
<br/>
<br/>Inscr. ‘Albert Toft, 1915’ on base.
<br/>Marble, 76×26 1/4×28 1/2 (193×66·5×72) including base.
<br/>Chantrey Purchase from the artist 1915.
<br/><i>Exh:</i> R.A., 1915 (1903).
<br/><i>Repr:</i> <i>Studio</i>, LXV, 1915, p.40; Herbert Maryon, <i>Modern Sculpture</i>, 1933, fig.73.</p>
<p>
<br/>[no further details]
<br/>
<br/><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, <i>The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture</i>, London 1964, II
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-07-16T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
actions: postures and motions adults bathing / swimming bending forward cloth female leisure and pastimes miscellaneous nudes objects people recreational activities standing woman