Bishop Ollivant (1798-1882), by H. H. Armstead, stands in a canopied niche on the tower of Llandaff Cathedral in Wales, where he officiated. The sculptor's designs for the monument, showing both front and side views (on the right above), are to be found in the archives of W. Clarke, LLandaff. These match Armstead's studies of a clergyman for a statue of Bishop Ollivant among his many drawings at the Royal Academy. [Click on these images. and the following ones, to enlarge them.]
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 continues:
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."
The Bishop had been featured in profile in the Illustrated London News on the occasion of his consecration in late 1849, alongside two other new bishops. He was indeed rather tall, and cut an impressive figure: Armstead has captured his presence well. But, as is fitting, his statue looks down from the cathedral with a more benign expression than the one captured by the illustrator on that particularly solemn occasion.
Photographs by Michael Statham, who also kindly provided the scan of the design. Image of the Bishop at his consecration, text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use the images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit them appropriately, and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.
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.
"Consecration of Bishops at Lambeth Palace." Illustrated London News Vol. XV, No. 402 (8 December 1849): 375-376. Internet Archive. Web. 5 October 2024.
Created 29 December 2022
Last modified 5 October 2024