“Motherhood (Victoria Memorial)” by Sir Thomas Brock

[Victorian Web Home —> Visual Arts —> Sculpture —> Thomas Brock— Victoria Memorial sitemap —> Next]

Motherhood

Sir Thomas Brock, K.C.B., R.A. 1847-1922

1911

Granite

The Victoria Memorial

South-west side of memorial

Between the Mall and Buckingham Palace, London

Compare photograph from a different angle published in the 1911 Studio

Photograph by George P. Landow December 1999

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one.]

Commentary by Malcolm C. Salaman (1911)

On the opposite side to the Queen, and facing the Palace, against an ornamentally carved niche similar to that which forms the back of Victoria's throne, is perhaps the most beautiful and expressive group of all. This is Motherhood, and in it the sculptor has intended to suggest the Queen's maternal love for her people. Exquisitely and naturally he has done this, without the slightest straining after sentiment. Here is just the typical mother, with her small children nestling to her, beautiful in her loving protective tenderness, sad of face with the sense of responsibility, yet resolute to bear it, and even rejoice in it, for the beloved ones. Surely here is a group touchingly beautiful, and vitally artistic, enough to make” by itself a sculptor's reputation. Above this is more ornamental carving till we come to the main cornice of the pedestal, adorned on two sides” by eagles, signifying Dominion.

Bibliography

Salaman, Malcolm C. “Sir Thomas Brock's Queen Victoria Memorial.” The Studio 53 (June 1911) 29-40. Internet Archive digitized from a copy in the University of Toronto Library.

Beattie, Susan. The New Sculpture. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1983.

Read, Benedict. Victorian Sculpture. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1982.

Last modified 25 December 2010