Bronze on wooden 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>
Infant Christ
Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1924
baby
Bible: New Testament
boy
children
Christ
halo
individuals: male
named individuals
people
portraits
religion and belief
universal religious imagery
Wheeler, Robin
<p>Wheeler originally made this as a portrait of his nine-month-old son Robin in early 1920. When it was shown at the Royal Academy four years later he added the halo, transforming it from a naturalistic study into a religious subject. Christ’s down-turned eyes seem lost in thought, as if ruminating on the hard road he must follow. Wheeler, who was President of the Royal Academy from 1956 to 1966, was best known for his monumental public sculptures, including figures on the façade of the Bank of England, and the Jellicoe Memorial Fountain in Trafalgar Square.</p><p><i>Charles Wheeler was born in 1892 in Codsall, Staffordshire. He died in Mayfield, Sussex in 1974.</i></p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
sculpture bronze wooden
3 May 2004 – 30 August 2004
2004-08-30
3 May 2004
2004-05-03
Tate Modern (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
2004-05-03
Turbine Hall (heads)
Collection based display
1 February 2010 – 6 May 2010
2010-05-06
1 February 2010 – 6 May 2010
2010-05-06
2010-02-01
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2010-02-01
CAS
Collection based display
The Infant Christ
object: 343 × 216 × 133 mm, 6 kg
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> 1924
<p>Wheeler originally made this as a 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/p/portrait" title="Glossary definition for 'Portrait'"><span>portrait</span></a> of his nine-month-old son Robin in early 1920. When it was shown at the Royal Academy four years later he added the halo, transforming it from a naturalistic study into a religious subject. Christ’s down-turned eyes seem lost in thought, as if ruminating on the hard road he must follow. Wheeler, who was President of the Royal Academy from 1956 to 1966, was best known for his monumental public <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>sculptures</span></a>, including figures on the façade of the Bank of England, and the Jellicoe Memorial Fountain in Trafalgar Square.
<br/>
<br/><i>Charles Wheeler was born in 1892 in Codsall, Staffordshire. He died in Mayfield, Sussex in 1974.</i>
<br/></p>

Display caption
2004-08-18T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><b>N03959</b> THE INFANT CHRIST 1920–4</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not inscribed.
<br/>Bronze, 13 1/2×8 1/4×5 1/4 (34×21×13).
<br/>Chantrey Purchase from the artist 1924.
<br/><i>Exh:</i>
R.A., 1924 (1504).</p>
<p>Executed as 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/p/portrait" title="Glossary definition for 'Portrait'"><span>portrait</span></a> of the artist's nine-month-old son, Robin, early in 1920. First exhibited with a halo as ‘The Infant Christ’ 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 1924. Another, contemporary, <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> of this work belongs to the artist.</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
2004-10-05T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
baby Bible: New Testament boy children Christ halo individuals: male named individuals people portraits religion and belief universal religious imagery Wheeler, Robin