Marble, ivory and bronze on marble base
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Chantrey Bequest
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/harry-bates-26" aria-label="More by Harry Bates" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Harry Bates</a>
Pandora
Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1891
actions: postures and motions
actions: processes and functions
adults
beauty
box
classical myths: events, themes
classical myths: gods and heroes
contemplation
emotions and human qualities
emotions, concepts and ideas
female
kneeling
looking / watching
nudes
objects
Pandora
Pandora’s box
people
religion and belief
temptation
universal concepts
universal religious imagery
vessels and containers
woman
<p>In Greek myth Pandora was the first mortal woman. The gods gave her gifts of beauty, the power of song and eloquence. Zeus gave her a box containing every human ill and sent her to Earth. When she opened this box, all the misfortunes that afflicted mankind flew out. Bates shows the moment of hesitation before Pandora opens the forbidden box. He suggests Pandora's mood of consideration and temptation while also recognising the inevitable fulfilment of the myth. This way he acknowledges the compulsion of character, and frailty of the human spirit. The ivory box is carved with figures relating to the creation of Pandora.</p><p><em>Gallery label, February 2010</em></p>
sculpture marble ivory bronze
20 March 2009 – 17 October 2010
2010-10-17
20 March 2009 – 17 October 2010
2010-10-17
2009-03-20
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2009-03-20
New Sculpture
Collection based display
11 September 2014 – 25 May 2015
2015-05-25
11 September 2014 – 30 November 2014
2014-11-30
2014-09-11
Yale Center for British Art (New Haven, USA)
http://ycba.yale.edu/index.asp
25 February 2015 – 25 May 2015
2015-05-25
2015-02-25
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2014-09-11
Sculpture Victorious: Art in an Age of Invention, 1837-1901
Exhibition
11 September 2014 – 24 May 2015
2015-05-24
11 September 2014 – 30 November 2014
2014-11-30
2014-09-11
Yale Center for British Art (New Haven, USA)
http://ycba.yale.edu/index.asp
2014-09-11
Victorian Sculpture
Loan-out
25 November 2022 – 26 February 2023
2023-02-26
25 November 2022 – 26 February 2023
2023-02-26
2022-11-25
Henry Moore Institute (Leeds, UK)
http://www.henry-moore-fdn.co.uk
2022-11-25
The Art of Anxiety: Sculpture and Colour in Victorian Britain
Loan-out
Pandora
object: 1060 × 540 × 785mm
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> 1891
<p>In Greek myth Pandora was the first mortal woman. The gods gave her gifts of beauty, the power of song and eloquence. Zeus gave her a box containing every human ill and sent her to Earth. When she opened this box, all the misfortunes that afflicted mankind flew out. Bates shows the moment of hesitation before Pandora opens the forbidden box. He suggests Pandora's mood of consideration and temptation while also recognising the inevitable fulfilment of the myth. This way he acknowledges the compulsion of character, and frailty of the human spirit. The ivory box is carved with figures relating to the creation of Pandora.
<br/></p>

Display caption
2010-02-18T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><b>N01750</b> PANDORA <i>c.</i> 1891
<br/> 
<br/>Inscr. ‘Harry Bates. Sc.’ on back of marble slab.
<br/>Marble, ivory and bronze, 37×20×29 (94×51×74), on marble base, 5×22×31 (13×56×79).
<br/>Chantrey Purchase from the artist 1891.
<br/><i>Exh:</i>
R.A., 1891 (2117).
<br/><i>Lit:</i> E.T. Cook, <i>A Popular Handbook to the Tate Gallery</i>, 1898, p.275; E.J. Winter Johnson, ‘Mr Harry Bates, A.R.A.’ in <i>The Artist</i>, XX, 1897, p.586, repr. facing p.579.</p>
<p>According to Greek legend Pandora was the first woman on earth and released all human ills by opening the lid of a casket entrusted to her by the gods.</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
2004-07-16T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
actions: postures and motions actions: processes and functions adults beauty box classical myths: events, themes classical myths: gods and heroes contemplation emotions and human qualities emotions, concepts and ideas female kneeling looking / watching nudes objects Pandora Pandora’s box people religion and belief temptation universal concepts universal religious imagery vessels and containers woman