Hello
In response to Katie’s query, I asked my friend, art historian Dr Gail-Nina Anderson, and here are her thoughts…
Dear Katie
An interesting conundrum, where I suspect a slight mis-match between style and subject might be causing confusion.
Spence’s
style is undoubtedly in the classical tradition, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that his
subjects are classical. Sometimes that is the case (as with his “Psyche at the Well”) but he more frequently produced non-classical subjects depicted in classical mode. Indeed his best-known works are “The Angel’s Whisper” (a work of Christian symbolism)
and “Highland Mary” (showing Robert Burns’ Scottish sweetheart.)
Your statue doesn’t look like a classical subject. Her hair, loose with a band round her head, isn’t in a recognisable classic
mode, and neither are her clothes. Instead of bare feet/sandals she wears simple flat shoes, and though at first sight she may appear to be draped in flowing robes, the reality is rather different. She has a fitted, buttoned, short-sleeved bodice, and the
drapery over her shoulder is actually a fringed shawl. Given that classic ladies/muses/goddesses/nymphs usually provided the Victorians with a great excuse to flash a bit of marble bosom, your lady is likely to have a different status, possibly from literature
or the Bible. I did wonder if she might be a Ruth (I know Spence produced a Ruth, but can’t find an image), but that Old Testament heroine usually carries a sheaf or stalks of corn, to indicate who she is.
There’s another possible clue (which might fit well with the success of his “Highland Mary” figure.) Look at the design
on her chest – it looks to me like a brooch showing the double-hearted version of the traditional Scottish Luckenbooth. These were usually sweethearts’ tokens, most specifically associated with Edinburgh (home of the silversmiths’ locked booths, which gave
the design its name.) I’ve put this detail next to the sort of brooch I mean:
So I would suggest she’s a Scottish heroine from history or from literature. Given the immense popularity of the novels of Sir Walter Scott she might come
from these – a wild guess would be Jeannie or Effie Deans from “The Heart of Midlothian” (1818) although this story is set in the 1730s and our lady looks rather less modern than that. Difficult to decide which era she belongs to, however, as she’s wearing
a sort of all-purpose simple rustic outfit arranged with a deceptively Graeco-Roman grace!
Hope that at least opens up some possibilities – do please get back to me with any further information that comes turns up in the course of your researches.
Gail-Nina
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On Behalf Of King, Katie
Sent: 08 August 2017 16:22
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Subject: Benjamin Edward Spence Sculpture
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I wonder if the collective brain power of SHCG could help me out. We have recently acquired a wonderful statue/sculpture that once graced the winter garden of the Derby Castle Ballroom in the Isle of Man. We know that she, and a number
of other statues, were acquired in 1905 and were copies of work by Benjamin Edward Spence on display at the time in the Liverpool Art Gallery (now Walker Art Gallery). My 1990’s school education did not stretch to the classics (!) or indeed fine art, so I
wonder whether anyone might know who this figure represents? Is she a famous classical study? I am just calling her muse in contemplation at the moment.
Any ideas gratefully received.
Best wishes,
Katie
p.s. I have tried to contact the Walker, but they say they are unable to answer enquiries at present.
Katie King
Community Outreach & Learning Support Officer
Manx National Heritage
Eiraght Ashoonagh Vannin
Manx Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3LY
t: +44 (0) 1624 648035
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