Bronze
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
Studies for a Statue of Sir Joshua Reynolds
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/f-derwent-wood-2168" aria-label="More by F. Derwent Wood" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">F. Derwent Wood</a>
Presented by Mrs Derwent Wood 1946
actions: postures and motions
adults
artist, painter
arts and entertainment
fine arts and music
individuals: male
legs crossed
man
named individuals
objects
palette
people
portraits
Reynolds, Joshua
sitting
work and occupations
<p>These eight maquettes (small preparatory models) were made for a statue of the eighteenth-century artist, Sir Joshua Reynolds, for the courtyard of Royal Academy’s home, Burlington House, in London’s Piccadilly. Only two sculptors, Derwent Wood and Alfred Drury, were invited to submit proposals. These studies by Wood show Reynolds in various poses, invariably holding a palette and painting brush, the tools of his profession.</p><p>In the end the commission was given to Alfred Drury. The statue was put in place in 1931 and still stands outside the Royal Academy.</p><p><em>Gallery label, September 2004</em></p>
sculpture bronze
3 November 2003 – 19 January 2004
2004-01-19
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2003-11-03
Portraits of Artists
Collection based display
12 February 2005 – 25 September 2005
2005-09-25
26 May 2005 – 25 September 2005
2005-09-25
2005-05-26
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2005-02-12
Joshua Reynolds
Exhibition
[title not known]
object: 235 × 110 × 120 mm
Presented by Mrs Derwent Wood 1946
<div class="pbodytext">
<span class="text13">These eight <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/maquette" title="Glossary definition for 'Maquette'"><span>maquettes</span></a> (small preparatory</span><span class="text0"> models) were made for a statue of the eighteenth-century      artist, Sir Joshua </span><span class="text14">Reynolds, for the courtyard      of Royal </span><span class="text0">A</span><span class="text13">cademy’s      home, Burlington House, in </span><span class="text0">London’s      Piccadilly. Only two <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>sculptors</span></a>, Derwent Wood and Alfred Drury, were </span><span class="text13">invited to submit proposals. These studies</span><span class="text0"> by Wood show Reynolds in various poses, invariably holding a      palette and painting </span><span class="text14">brush, the tools of his      profession. </span><span class="text0">
<br/> </span>
</div>
<div class="para10">
<span class="text0">
<br/> </span>
</div>
<div class="pbodytext">
<span class="text0">In the end the commission was given to </span><span class="text13">Alfred Drury. The statue was put in place </span><span class="text0">
</span><span class="text14">in 1931 and still stands outside the  
Royal Academy.</span><span class="text0">
<br/> </span>
</div>

Display caption
2004-09-09T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><b>N05652</b> [from] EIGHT STUDIES FOR A STATUE OF SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS 1916 [<a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/wood-title-not-known-n05647" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>N05647</span></a>-<a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/wood-title-not-known-n05654" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>N05654</span></a>]</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Presented by Mrs Derwent Wood 1946.
<br/><i>Exh:</i> Leicester Galleries, April–May 1926 (31–8); <i>Works by the late Sir Hamo Thornycroft</i>, <i>R.A., and F. Derwent Wood, R.A.</i>, R.A., winter 1927 (19, 20, 21, 29, 35, 38, 43 and 46); <i>Exhibition of Paintings by S. Isabel Dacre, Etchings by Francis Dodd, A.R.A., Statuary</i>, <i>Paintings and Drawings by F. Derwent Wood, R.A.</i>, Manchester, November 1927-January 1928 (195–202), as ‘Eight Sketches for a proposed Monument to Sir Joshua Reynolds’.
<br/>The studies are listed [<span>N05647</span>-<span>N05654</span>] in what seems to be a possible order of development:</p>
<p></p>
<p><b>N05652</b> Not inscribed.
<br/>Bronze, 9 1/4×4 1/4×4 3/4 (23·5×11×12).</p>
<p>A seated figure, almost squatting. The right hand with the brush rests on the right knee, while the left hand holds the palette. The head is turned half right. The pedestal is rectangular in plan with two deep semicircular bows front and back.</p>
<p>According to the R.A. Reports for 1916–17 the Council of the Royal <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/a/academy" title="Glossary definition for 'Academy'"><span>Academy</span></a> decided 10 April 1916 upon the conditions of the competition for the proposed statue of Sir Joshua Reynolds to be put in the courtyard of Burlington House. Money for this was to come from the Leighton Fund, and two <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>sculptor</span></a> members, selected by ballot, were to be invited to submit models. Alfred Drury, R.A., and Derwent Wood, A.R.A. (as he then was), headed the poll. Drury submitted one model whilst Wood sent in two. The models were inspected by the Council on the 13 and 15 January 1917 and Drury was given the commission. Derwent Wood received 100 guineas. The scale of the models had to be 2 in.: 1 ft. and an estimate of the cost was also required by the Council. Drury's statue was not finished and put into place until 1931.</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, II
<br/>
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-10-08T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
actions: postures and motions adults artist, painter arts and entertainment fine arts and music individuals: male legs crossed man named individuals objects palette people portraits Reynolds, Joshua sitting work and occupations