Lot Essay
Charles Summers (1825-1878) exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1849 to 1876 and was made a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1871. In 1851 he was the first sculptor ever to be awarded both the Royal Academy Silver and Gold medals for his group Mercy Interceding for the Vanquished. In the same year he included his A Boy Playing with a Shell in the Great Exhibition.
Two years later, in 1853, Summers left for Australia, soon establishing himself there as the leading sculptor. He executed a series of busts of the City Fathers for Melbourne, several portrait busts of other worthies and won the competition for the monument to the Explorers Burke and Wills.
In 1866 Summers returned to England, but moved to Rome the following year, where he remained until his death. His studio was swiftly considered one of the finest in Rome, and Summers continued to execute work for England and Australia. In 1878 Summers completed four colossal statues for Melbourne of the Queen, Prince Albert, Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra.
The present marble figure belongs to Summers' allegorical and historical figures, such as his Rebecca (Exeter Art Gallery), the Sunnamite, Maternal Affection and Roman Peasants. The posthumous dating on the present marble suggests that it was completed by his Roman studio after his death. This sculpture reveals the qualties which established Summers' fame: its excellence of craftmanship, balance of composition, didactic subject matter and decorative detailing. The figure of Ruth combines the taste for classical sculpture and purity of form with the incipient interest in the study of genre art, the whole elevated on a decorated pedestal.
Two years later, in 1853, Summers left for Australia, soon establishing himself there as the leading sculptor. He executed a series of busts of the City Fathers for Melbourne, several portrait busts of other worthies and won the competition for the monument to the Explorers Burke and Wills.
In 1866 Summers returned to England, but moved to Rome the following year, where he remained until his death. His studio was swiftly considered one of the finest in Rome, and Summers continued to execute work for England and Australia. In 1878 Summers completed four colossal statues for Melbourne of the Queen, Prince Albert, Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra.
The present marble figure belongs to Summers' allegorical and historical figures, such as his Rebecca (Exeter Art Gallery), the Sunnamite, Maternal Affection and Roman Peasants. The posthumous dating on the present marble suggests that it was completed by his Roman studio after his death. This sculpture reveals the qualties which established Summers' fame: its excellence of craftmanship, balance of composition, didactic subject matter and decorative detailing. The figure of Ruth combines the taste for classical sculpture and purity of form with the incipient interest in the study of genre art, the whole elevated on a decorated pedestal.