Design for a Monument to a Priest, front and side views, by H. H. Armstead

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Design for a monument to a priest, front and side views

H. H. Armstead

These match Armstead's studies of a clergyman for a statue of Bishop Ollivant among his many drawings at the Royal Academy. In that case, it would have been for Landaff Cathedral, where Ollivant (1798-1882) officiated. See below for commentary.

Source: from the archives of W. Clarke, LLandaff

Image kindly provided by Michael Statham, and text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. [Click on the image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text for links.]

You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit W. Clarke, Llandaff and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.

Another drawing, of Bishop Ollivant's face in profile, is also held by the Royal Academy. In that connection, their website says that Armstead exhibited a sculpture of "The Late Bishop Ollivant; for Llandaff" at their annual exhibition in 1887. It adds:

Ollivant was described as "tall and spare, with features said by many to resemble those of the Duke of Wellington. In advancing years he suffered from deafness; but his intellect was keen and vigorous to the last." Sir Nikolaus Pevsner described Ollivant's tomb at Llandaff as "spectacularly treated...by Armstead's grandiose recumbent effigy."

As amply confirmed by the archives of W. Clarke, Llandaff, the RA site adds, "Armstead made a number of designs for carvings and other fittings at Llandaff Cathedral, during its restoration by the architects J. P. Seddon, John Prichard and others between c.1845-1880s."

Bibliography

Profile portrait of Bishop Ollivant for monuments in Llandaff Cathedral. Royal Academy. Web. 29 December 2023.

Study of a clergyman for a statue of Bishop Ollivant. Royal Academy. Web. 29 December 2023.

Created 29 December 2022