DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1397#0239
PLATE 72,
THE FINDING OF MOSES, A MARBLE GBOUP,
BY B. E. SPENCE.
THIS fine group, larger than life-size, in the possession of J. Naylor, Esq., of Leighton Hall, for
whom it was executed by Mr. B. B. Spence, is one of the best renderings of the subject we
have ever seen. The figures of Pharaoh's daughter and her attendant are dignified and graceful, and
the costume and ornaments are in good taste. A female slave presents the cradle and baby, who,
with outstretched arms, greets the maidens as his saviours. It is good both in composition and
detail; but in this, as in almost all the cases of our photographs from sculpture in the Exhibition, the
light was so very bad, that the group appears to the worst possible advantage as regards chiaro-
scuro. There were good pieces enough, indeed, in the Exhibition to have formed a sculpture-gallery
such as we have never seen in this country; but not only were these pieces cast here and there at
haphazard apparently, but no provision whatever was made for that most important of all aids for
the proper appreciation of sculpture—a good light—and our chefs-d'movre were ruined by cross-
lights in every direction, or else lost in no definite light at all. It appears astonishing that
an art so noble as that of Sculpture should have received ■ so little consideration at the hands
of our Boyal Academy, and other Art Corporations : at the former, works of sculpture were
for years placed in a sort of condemned cell, where twilight reigned supreme; and the present
alteration is only a shade better: as to the other Bine Art Exhibitions, no attempt is made
to provide place for sculpture, the pieces being dotted about wherever room can be obtained.
Proper light is fully as important for the appreciation of a work in sculpture as of a picture;
and we trust, in the changes which will occur relative to the Academy, a separate gallery will
be provided for our sculptors.
Benjamin Evans Spence was born at Liverpool in the year 1822; his father being also a sculptor
resident there, and largely engaged as a general statuary. He received his education in that city,
where there is an excellent preparatory school, a fine collection of casts, and a school for the study of
anatomy. Whilst studying here, he modelled a large group representing the " Death of the Duke
of York at Agincourt." This work was exhibited at the great exhibition of sculpture at Westminster
Hall in 1844, and being afterwards sent to Manchester for exhibition, obtained the Heywood medal.
About this time the young sculptor left Liverpool for the more congenial atmosphere of Eome, where
he arrived in 1846, and was most kindly received by his celebrated fellow countryman and artist,
Gibson, who took him into his studio, and gave him the great advantage of his knowledge and
advice.
Mr. Spence's first work in marble was a statue of "Lavinia," for S. Holme, Esq., of Liverpool,
which was exhibited at the Royal Academy some years since, and afterwards engraved in the " Art
Journal." His well-known statue of " Highland Mary," which was in the Great Exhibition of 1851,
has been one of the most popular of Mr. Spence's works : it was executed for his late Royal Highness
the Prince Consort, and is now appropriately placed at Balmoral, and Her Majesty the Queen has
recently commissioned him to make a companion statue, the subject being " The Lady of the Lake,"
which is also at Balmoral. Mr. Spence has produced a great number of works both ideal and in
portraiture. Among the former we may mention " The Pour Seasons," executed for Le Gendre
Starkie, Esq., of Huntroyd, and since twice repeated; a group of a "Pastoral Nymph with a Pawn,"
for Henry Sandbach, Esq., of Hafodunos; a group of "Venus and Cupid," for R. C. Naylor, Esq.,
of Hooton; statues of " Cupid and Psyche," for W. Jackson, Esq., M.P. for Birkenhead; group of
" Hippolytus, with a Dog and a dead Pawn," for T. Barnes, Esq., M.P. for Bolton; " The Angel's
Whisper," for James Smith, Esq., of Seaforth; a statue for the late Lord Yarborough; and a statue
of " Jeanie Deans before Queen Caroline," for J. C. Bowring, Esq., of Larkbear, Exeter, which was
in the International Exhibition. Mr. Spence is now engaged on a large group, "The Parting of
Hector and Andromache," for T. Brassey, Esq., the eminent contractor. He has chosen Italy for
his home, like so many of our best English and American sculptors, and on the death of that
promising sculptor R. J. Wyatt, at Rome, succeeded to his studio, where all Wyatt's models are
carefully preserved by him.
Rome probably presents greater advantages to the sculptor than to the painter as a place of resi-
dence : and however much we may regret to lose from amongst us such a number of excellent artists
and men, it is pleasant to know that in the comparative seclusion of the classic city of Europe they
are better enabled to produce works which redound to the credit of our age and our country.
THE FINDING OF MOSES, A MARBLE GBOUP,
BY B. E. SPENCE.
THIS fine group, larger than life-size, in the possession of J. Naylor, Esq., of Leighton Hall, for
whom it was executed by Mr. B. B. Spence, is one of the best renderings of the subject we
have ever seen. The figures of Pharaoh's daughter and her attendant are dignified and graceful, and
the costume and ornaments are in good taste. A female slave presents the cradle and baby, who,
with outstretched arms, greets the maidens as his saviours. It is good both in composition and
detail; but in this, as in almost all the cases of our photographs from sculpture in the Exhibition, the
light was so very bad, that the group appears to the worst possible advantage as regards chiaro-
scuro. There were good pieces enough, indeed, in the Exhibition to have formed a sculpture-gallery
such as we have never seen in this country; but not only were these pieces cast here and there at
haphazard apparently, but no provision whatever was made for that most important of all aids for
the proper appreciation of sculpture—a good light—and our chefs-d'movre were ruined by cross-
lights in every direction, or else lost in no definite light at all. It appears astonishing that
an art so noble as that of Sculpture should have received ■ so little consideration at the hands
of our Boyal Academy, and other Art Corporations : at the former, works of sculpture were
for years placed in a sort of condemned cell, where twilight reigned supreme; and the present
alteration is only a shade better: as to the other Bine Art Exhibitions, no attempt is made
to provide place for sculpture, the pieces being dotted about wherever room can be obtained.
Proper light is fully as important for the appreciation of a work in sculpture as of a picture;
and we trust, in the changes which will occur relative to the Academy, a separate gallery will
be provided for our sculptors.
Benjamin Evans Spence was born at Liverpool in the year 1822; his father being also a sculptor
resident there, and largely engaged as a general statuary. He received his education in that city,
where there is an excellent preparatory school, a fine collection of casts, and a school for the study of
anatomy. Whilst studying here, he modelled a large group representing the " Death of the Duke
of York at Agincourt." This work was exhibited at the great exhibition of sculpture at Westminster
Hall in 1844, and being afterwards sent to Manchester for exhibition, obtained the Heywood medal.
About this time the young sculptor left Liverpool for the more congenial atmosphere of Eome, where
he arrived in 1846, and was most kindly received by his celebrated fellow countryman and artist,
Gibson, who took him into his studio, and gave him the great advantage of his knowledge and
advice.
Mr. Spence's first work in marble was a statue of "Lavinia," for S. Holme, Esq., of Liverpool,
which was exhibited at the Royal Academy some years since, and afterwards engraved in the " Art
Journal." His well-known statue of " Highland Mary," which was in the Great Exhibition of 1851,
has been one of the most popular of Mr. Spence's works : it was executed for his late Royal Highness
the Prince Consort, and is now appropriately placed at Balmoral, and Her Majesty the Queen has
recently commissioned him to make a companion statue, the subject being " The Lady of the Lake,"
which is also at Balmoral. Mr. Spence has produced a great number of works both ideal and in
portraiture. Among the former we may mention " The Pour Seasons," executed for Le Gendre
Starkie, Esq., of Huntroyd, and since twice repeated; a group of a "Pastoral Nymph with a Pawn,"
for Henry Sandbach, Esq., of Hafodunos; a group of "Venus and Cupid," for R. C. Naylor, Esq.,
of Hooton; statues of " Cupid and Psyche," for W. Jackson, Esq., M.P. for Birkenhead; group of
" Hippolytus, with a Dog and a dead Pawn," for T. Barnes, Esq., M.P. for Bolton; " The Angel's
Whisper," for James Smith, Esq., of Seaforth; a statue for the late Lord Yarborough; and a statue
of " Jeanie Deans before Queen Caroline," for J. C. Bowring, Esq., of Larkbear, Exeter, which was
in the International Exhibition. Mr. Spence is now engaged on a large group, "The Parting of
Hector and Andromache," for T. Brassey, Esq., the eminent contractor. He has chosen Italy for
his home, like so many of our best English and American sculptors, and on the death of that
promising sculptor R. J. Wyatt, at Rome, succeeded to his studio, where all Wyatt's models are
carefully preserved by him.
Rome probably presents greater advantages to the sculptor than to the painter as a place of resi-
dence : and however much we may regret to lose from amongst us such a number of excellent artists
and men, it is pleasant to know that in the comparative seclusion of the classic city of Europe they
are better enabled to produce works which redound to the credit of our age and our country.