Bronze on stone base
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Chantrey Bequest
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sir-charles-wheeler-2138" aria-label="More by Sir Charles Wheeler" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Sir Charles Wheeler</a>
Spring
Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1930
actions: postures and motions
adults
arm / arms raised
dance
female
Kelsey, Marguerite
leisure and pastimes
music and entertainment
named individuals
nature
nudes
people
seasons
spring
spring - woman
symbols and personifications
woman
<p>The model was Marguerite Kelsey who sat to Meredith Frampton in 1928. Wheeler was a painter and sculptor who exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy summer exhibition from 1914 to 1970. 'Spring' was shown at the 1930 summer exhibition. She holds a seed in her right hand symbolising her personification. Flowers bloom in relief on her feet and are indented on the rest of her body. Wheeler discovered the model at an evening sketch class and said that she brought spring into his studio when it was midwinter. Other sculptures by Wheeler include the Jellicoe Memorial Fountain in Trafalgar Square and figures on the Bank of England building. He was President of the Royal Academy 1956-66.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
sculpture bronze stone
Spring
object: 1626 × 1308 × 648 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> 1930
<p>The model was Marguerite Kelsey who sat to Meredith Frampton in 1928. Wheeler was a painter and <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> who exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy summer exhibition from 1914 to 1970. 'Spring' was shown at the 1930 summer exhibition. She holds a seed in her right hand symbolising her personification. Flowers bloom 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/r/relief" title="Glossary definition for 'Relief'"><span>relief</span></a> on her feet and are indented on the rest of her body. Wheeler discovered the model at an evening sketch class and said that she brought spring into his studio when it was midwinter. Other sculptures by Wheeler include the Jellicoe Memorial Fountain in Trafalgar Square and figures on the Bank of England building. He was President of the Royal Academy 1956-66.</p>
Display caption
2004-08-18T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><b>N04548</b> SPRING 1929–30</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not inscribed.
<br/>Bronze, 64×51 1/2×25 1/2 (162·5×131×65), including base 1×14 3/4×17 1/8 (2·5×110×43·5).
<br/>Chantrey Purchase from the artist 1930.
<br/><i>Exh:</i> R.A., 1930 (1630).
<br/><i>Repr:</i> Souvenir catalogue, <i>Open Air Exhibition of Sculpture</i>, Battersea Park, May–September 1948, p.32; <i>Iskusstvo</i>, Moscow, No.8, 1959, p.54.</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> made at the same time is still (1963) in the artist's possession. A modified version of the head was exhibited at 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> in 1934 (1581) and is reproduced in <i>Royal Academy Illustrated</i>, 1934, p.120.</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/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-10-06T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
actions: postures and motions adults arm / arms raised dance female Kelsey, Marguerite leisure and pastimes music and entertainment named individuals nature nudes people seasons spring spring - woman symbols and personifications woman