Cathal and the Woodfolk by Charles Sargeant Jagger, 1914. Bronze relief. Source: McAllister 98. [See also a colour photograph of it.] "Cathal" was the name given to several early Irish kings, and this relief shows some heroic or legendary figure of this name embracing a woman, with "the Woodfolk" similarly engaged around him. The largest one, dominant in the background, looks like a centaur. I. G. McAllister sees it as an example of Jagger's "Bacchanalian subjects," to which, he feels, the sculptor was drawn because they gave him "plenty of scope for the imaginative faculty with which he is well endowed":
though classical in treatment, [it] has the unique quality of being very much alive; in fact the whole work is instinct with life and movement to a degree that is particularly noticeable. One is struck” by the variety of types, nor will the naturally expressed action of the young girl on the right, with the unconventional treatment of the pose of the arm and hand, be overlooked. Another thing which occurs to one's notice is the perfect modelling of the smallest detail, the sure outcome of a well-disciplined power of observation, and a very sound technical training. Very expressive are the feet and hands of each separate figure in the group. One is irresistibly reminded of youth and joie de vivre in this piece of work. [96]
In that connection, notice the Pan figure playing on his pipes in the left-hand corner.
Image scan, text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use the image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the source and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
Related Material
Bibliography
Compton, Ann. The Sculpture of Charles Sargeant Jagger. Much Hadham, Herts: The Henry Moore Foundation; Aldershot: Lund Humphries, 2004.
McAllister, I. G. "Rising British Sculptor: Charles Sargeant Jagger." Studio International. Vol. 54 (Nov. 1914-Feb.1915): 84-99. Internet Archive. Contributed by Robarts Library, University of Toronto. Web. 3 June 2017.
Created 3 June 2017