Sunna
Sunna
Published 2016-12-13T12:20:07+00:00
Like the seated figure of Thuner (Museum no. A.10-1985) Sunna is from a unique series of Saxon gods that Lord Cobham commissioned for his gardens at Stowe. Each Saxon god is traditionally associated with a day of the week, and Sunna represents Sunday. The figure was lost for many years and only rediscovered in 1996. The Saxon gods are tied in with the political iconography of Stowe, and symbolise Lord Cobham’s allegiance to the ideals of those Whigs who had broken away from Sir Robert Walpole. As such they represent an ancient British identity.
Rysbrack was born in Antwerp, and trained in the Netherlands, but spent his working life in Britain. He was one of the most important sculptors active in this country in the first half of the 18th century, and specialised in portrait busts and funerary monuments. Although he never visited Italy, many of his works are clearly indebted to classical prototypes.
Gallery location:
Sculpture, Room 23, The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Galleries, case FS
Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Layer Thickness 200 microns. InFill 10%.
Date published | 13/12/2016 |
Time to do | 310 - 335 minutes |
Material Quantity | 48 grams |
Dimensions | 70mm x 80mm x 121mm |
Technology | FDM |
Complexity | Medium |
Title | Sunna |
Date | ca. 1728-30 |
Dimension | Height: 88.3 cm |
Accession | no. A.2-1997 |
Period | Neoclassical |
Medium | Portland Stone |
Credit | Purchased with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Hildburgh Bequest, and an anonymous donor |
Record | http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O66624/sunna-figure-rysbrack-john-michael/ |
Artist | John Michael Rysbrack |
Place | Victoria and Albert Museum, London |