Marble
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Chantrey Bequest
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/william-robert-colton-933" aria-label="More by William Robert Colton" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">William Robert Colton</a>
Springtide Life
Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1903
actions: expressive
actions: postures and motions
actions: processes and functions
boy
children
embracing
female
girl
landscape
looking / watching
male
nudes
people
restraining
rocky
sitting
<p>As a sculptor, Colton specialised in representations of female nudes, lovers and children. The finely-cut marble is used here to convey the pure essence of childhood. It also introduces a note of fancy with the figures resting on water, an idea which might have been suggested by Charles Kingsley’s novel The Waterbabies of 1863.</p><p>The unselfconscious postures of the children, especially the stance of the crouching boy, introduce a hint of realism into what is otherwise a subject of tender affection.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
sculpture marble
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
19 May 2012 – 2 December 2012
2012-12-02
19 May 2012 – 2 December 2012
2012-12-02
2012-05-19
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2012-05-19
Victorian Sentimentality
Collection based display
The Springtide of Life
object: 1359 × 635 × 610 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> 1903
<div class="pbodytext">
<span class="text0">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/s/sculpture" title="Glossary definition for 'Sculpture'"><span>sculptor</span></a>, Colton specialised in representations of      female nudes, lovers and children. The finely-cut marble is used here to      convey the pure essence of childhood. It also introduces a note of fancy      with the figures resting on water, an idea which might have been suggested      by Charles Kingsley’s novel </span><span class="text14">The      Waterbabies </span><span class="text0">of 1863. </span>
</div>
<div class="para9">
<span class="text0">
<br/> </span>
</div>
<div class="pbodytext">
<span class="text15">The unselfconscious postures of the children,      especially the stance of the</span><span class="text0"> crouching boy,      introduce a hint 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> </span><span class="text15">into what is      otherwise a subject of</span><span class="text0">  tender affection.  </span>
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Display caption
2004-08-18T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><b>N01928</b> THE SPRINGTIDE OF LIFE 1903
<br/> 
<br/>Inscr. ‘Colton 1903’ on top of plinth, at back on right.
<br/>Serravezza marble on a separate base of Siena marble, 53 1/2×25×24 (136×64×61) excluding base.
<br/>Chantrey Purchase from the artist 1903.
<br/><i>Exh:</i> R.A., 1903 (1880).
<br/><i>Lit:</i> W. T. Whitley, ‘W. Robert Colton, A.R.A.’ in <i>Art Journal</i>, 1911, p.178, repr. p.180; A. L. Baldry, ‘Modern British Sculptors: W. Robert Colton, A.R.A.’ in <i>Studio</i>, LXVI, 1915, p.96, repr. p.94.
<br/><i>Repr:</i> <i>Royal Academy Pictures</i>, 1903, p.94.</p>
<p>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/plaster-of-paris" title="Glossary definition for 'Plaster of Paris'"><span>plaster</span></a> version of this group was exhibited at the R.A., 1902 (1724), repr. <i>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> Pictures</i>, 1902, p.179. The <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>'s daughter (Mrs Kerr, letter of 9 December 1956) recalled that this was always one of his most popular works. The models were two little girls, one of whom was transformed into a little boy in the finished work. The allusion is that the two children are playing by the seashore, the elder and more responsible of the two gently restraining her younger brother, who is balanced on a rock entranced by the waves.</p>
<p>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/m/metal" title="Glossary definition for 'Metal'"><span>bronze</span></a> version (27 in. high) was exhibited at the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts, 1906 (878), and again at the Beaux Arts Gallery in 1929.</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</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-09-23T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
actions: expressive actions: postures and motions actions: processes and functions boy children embracing female girl landscape looking / watching male nudes people restraining rocky sitting