Art, Craft, and Industry presenting their wares to Birmingham 1891-93. Sculptor: Benjamin Creswick. Buff terracotta, 276 x 90 cm. Bloomsbury Public Library, Birmingham. Designed by Jethro Cousins and Peacock. George T. Noszlopy explains that in this largest of the panels on the main façade of the building, Birmingham “is represented as a seated semi-nude, classically draped female, holding a mural crown in her lap and a laurel branch, the symbol of victory and achievement in the arts, in the crook of her arm. The figures are surrounded with fruit and flora, as well as armaments, which represent an industry of particular importance to Birmingham” (90). [Click on image to enlarge it.]
Other works in this series and related material
- Domestic scene
- Men playing Rugby
- Blacksmiths
- Blacksmiths (relief cast in iron)
- Girls dancing or playing games
Photograph and research by Annie Creswick-Dawson. Formatting, perspective correction, text by George P. Landow. [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.]
Bibliography
Noszlopy, George T. The Public Sculpture of Birmingham. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press Illustrated, 1998.
Last modified 4 December 2012