Joseph Edgar Boehm | |
|---|---|
) Boehm with Princess Louise, about 1885 | |
| Born | Josef Erasmus Bohm[1] 6 July 1834 Vienna |
| Died | 12 December 1890 (aged 56) London, England |
| Known for | Sculpture |
| Spouse(s) | Louisa Frances Boteler |
Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, 1st Baronet, RA (6 July 1834 – 12 December 1890) was a medallist and sculptor, best known for the "Jubilee head" of Queen Victoria on coinage, and the statue of the Duke of Wellington at Hyde Park Corner. A speciality of Boehm's was the portrait bust; there are many examples of these in the National Portrait Gallery. He was often commissioned by the Royal Family and members of the aristocracy to make sculptures for their parks and gardens. His oeuvre is substantial, and he exhibited 123 works at the Royal Academy, from 1862 to his death in 1890.
Biography
Boehm (originally "Böhm") was born in Vienna of Hungarian parentage. His father, Josef Daniel Böhm, was a court medal maker and the director of the imperial mint in Vienna.[2] From 1848 to 1851 Boehm studied in London at Leigh's academy of art, the forerunner of the Heatherley School of Fine Art.[2] He then returned to Vienna where he studied model making and medal design at the Academie der Bildenden Kunste before working in Italy and then, from 1859 to 1962 in Paris.[2] In 1856, in Vienna, he was presented with the First Imperial Prize for Sculpture.[3]
In 1862, Boehm settled in London, where he exhibited coins and medals at the 1862 International Exhibition, opened a studio and had his first work, a terracotta bust, shown at the Royal Academy.[2][4][3] Throughout the 1860s, Boehm, who became a British subject in 1865, devoted his time to the production of portrait busts plus equestrian statues and statuettes.[3][5] His portrait subjects included William Makepeace Thackeray, John Everett Millais, Stratford Canning and Charles Thomas Newton and Franz Liszt.[2][4]
Boehm was often commissioned by members of the aristocracy to make equestrian and equine sculptures for their parks and gardens of their stately homes. His large sculpture of the stallion King Tom (1874) was commissioned by Baron Mayer Amschel de Rothschild for his new mansion, Mentmore Towers in 1873, and moved to Dalmeny House near Edinburgh in 1982.[6][7] His most important large animal works include The Young Bull and Herdsman (1871) located at The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, Melbourne. The Horse and His Master (1874) located in Malvern and Brueton Park in Solihull was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1874. At the Paris Universal Exposition of 1878 this sculpture was exhibited in the British Fine Art section as A Clydesdale Stallion Rearing.[8] Another example is St George and the Dragon, which is outside the State Library of Victoria.[9]
In 1869 Boehm's work came to the attention of Queen Victoria and he rose rapidly in favour with the royal court.[5][2] In 1869 he executed a colossal statue of Victoria, in marble for Windsor Castle, which with the monument of the Prince Edward in St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, are considered his earliest great works.[5] In total, throughout his career, Boehm completed some forty royal commissions.[2] Boehm is responsible for a large free-standing statue of Queen Victoria at Queen's Square in Sydney.
At least fifty-seven public statues and monuments were created by Boehm.[2] In 1874 Boehm completed a substantial statue of John Bunyan (1628–1688) which was unveiled on 10 June at St Peter's Green, Bedford, by Lady Augusta Stanley, before a crowd of 10,000. There are many statues by Boehm in London. His equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington at Hyde Park Corner, unveiled in 1888 was commissioned to compensate for the removal of the colossal sculpture of the Duke by Matthew Cotes Wyatt from the nearby Wellington Arch to Aldershot.[10][11]
Boehm's designs were used on a series of medals minted to mark events in the Queen's reign. These included the Golden Jubilee, her Diamond Jubilee and for the Visit to Ireland Medal 1900. In 1887, Boehm designed and executed the model for the dies for a series of coins, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria's reign. The coins are signed J.E.B. below the shoulder. This design was severely criticised by his peers as well as the public and was replaced in 1893.[12] The coins depicted the royal arms in the order of the garter on the reverse. As a result, the sixpences were frequently gilded and passed off as gold half sovereigns. Therefore, the sixpence reverted to its standard design.
Queen Victoria, 1842 Sovereign 662015
The New Zealand Medal, awarded after 1866
.jpg)
Commemoration Medal for Thomas Carlyle
Queen Victoria Crowned Jubilee Head, 1887
)
)
.jpg'))
)
Boehm's early portrait busts led, later in his career, to him undertaking a total of fifty-seven church monuments and memorial works, including several in British cathedrals.[2] For the memorial to General Charles George Gordon in St Paul's Cathedral, he carved an effigy of Gordon recumbent on a sarcophagus.[13] On the death of Dean Stanley, Boehm was commissioned to execute his sarcophagus in Westminster Abbey. The Abbey also houses Boehm's memorials to Lord Beaconsfield and to Viscount Canning, plus his marble statue of the Earl of Shaftesbury.[3][14] His monument to Archbishop Tait is in Canterbury Cathedral.[3]
Boehm became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1878, was appointed sculptor-in-ordinary to the Queen in 1881 and was elected a full member of the Royal Academy in 1882.[2] In 1889 he was created a baronet, of Wetherby Gardens in the Parish of St Mary Abbots, Kensington, in the County of London.[15] Boehm's most famous pupil was the Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, daughter of Queen Victoria. She was at his house, at 76 Fulham Road in London, when Boehm died suddenly on 12 December 1890, provoking press speculation about a sexual relationship between the two.[1] According to historian Lucinda Hawksley, the two had a long-lasting love affair.[16]
Public works
1870–1879
| Image | Title / subject | Location and coordinates | Date | Type | Material | Dimensions | Designation | Wikidata | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
) More images | King Tom | Dalmeny House, near Edinburgh | 1873 | Equine statue on plinth | Bronze | Originally erected at Mentmore Towers, relocated to Dalmeny in 1982[6] | |||
) More images | Statue of John Bunyan | St Peter's Street, Bedford | 1874 | Statue on pedestal with panels | Bronze and granite | Grade II | Q18162531 | [17] | |
) More images | Horse and Tamer | Malvern and Brueton Park, Solihull | 1874 | Equestrian statue group on pedestal | Bronze and stone | Grade II | Q26626782 | [18] | |
) | Horse and Groom | Stable Yard, Eaton Hall, Cheshire | c. 1875 | Equestrian statue group on pedestal | Bronze and granite | Grade II | Q26429540 | [19] | |
.jpg')) More images | John Fox Burgoyne | Waterloo Place, London | 1877 | Statue on pedestal | Bronze and stone | Grade II | Q26319140 | [20] |
1880–1884
| Image | Title / subject | Location and coordinates | Date | Type | Material | Dimensions | Designation | Wikidata | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
) More images | Queen Victoria | Temple Bar, London | 1880 | Statue in niche | Stone | Grade II | [21] | ||
,_Temple_Bar,_London_(4056362001).jpg')) More images | Edward VII | Temple Bar, London | 1880 | Statue in niche | Stone | Grade II | [21] | ||
.jpg')) More images | Thomas Carlyle | Chelsea Embankment Gardens, London | 1882 | Seated statue on pedestal | Bronze and granite | Grade II | Q26355706 | [22] | |
) | John Brown | Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire | 1883 | Statue on pedestal | Bronze | Category A | Q17574620 | [23] | |
) More images | Francis Drake | Plymouth Road, Tavistock, Devon | 1883 | Statue on pedestal with panels | Bronze and granite | Grade II | Q26611707 | [24] | |
) More images | Francis Drake | Plymouth Hoe, Plymouth | 1884 | Statue on pedestal | Bronze and granite | Grade II* | Q17554612 | Replica of the 1883 Tavistock statue.[25] | |
.jpg')) More images | William Tyndale | Victoria Embankment Gardens, London | 1884 | Statue on pedestal | Bronze and Portland stone | Grade II | Q27084838 | [26] |
1885–1889
| Image | Title / subject | Location and coordinates | Date | Type | Material | Dimensions | Designation | Wikidata | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
) More images | Archibald Campbell Tait | Canterbury Cathedral | 1885 | Cenotaph effigy | Marble | [27][28] | |||
) More images | Charles Darwin | Natural History Museum, London | 1885 | Seated statue | Marble | ||||
) More images | Michael Thomas Bass | Wardwick, Derby | 1885 | Statue on pedestal with panel | Bronze and stone | Grade II | Q26523638 | [29] | |
) More images | John Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence | Waterloo Place, London | 1885 | Statue on pedestal | Bronze and granite | Grade II | Q26319142 | [30] | |
) | Memorial Fountain to Herbert Stewart | Hans Place, Knightsbridge, London | 1886 | Relief medallion on drinking fountain | Bronze | Fountain by Joseph Whitehead[31] | |||
| Queen Victoria | Balmoral Estate, Aberdeenshire | 1887 | Statue on pedestal | Bronze and granite | Category A | Q17574625 | .[32][33] | ||
) | Stafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh | Northernhay Gardens, Exeter | 1887 | Statue on pedestal | Stone and granite | Grade II | Q26557993 | [34][35] | |
) More images | Queen Victoria | Castle Hill, Windsor, Berkshire | 1887 | Statue on pedestal with panels | Bronze and granite | Grade II | Q26570416 | [36][37] | |
.jpg')) More images | Albert, Prince Consort | Windsor Great Park, Berkshire | 1887 | Equestrian statue on pedestal | Bronze and granite | Grade II | Q26609381 | [38] | |
) More images | Queen Victoria | Queen's Square, Sydney, Australia | 1888 | Statue on pedestal | [39] | ||||
.jpg')) More images | Statue of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington | Hyde Park Corner, London | 1888 | Equestrian statue on pedestal with figures | Bronze and stone | Grade II | Q18159875 | [40] | |
) More images | Statue of Queen Victoria | College Green, Bristol | 1888 | Statue on pedestal with panels | Marble, granite and bronze | Grade II | Q7270543 | [41][42] | |
.jpg')) More images | John Elder | Elder Park, Govan, Glasgow | 1888 | Statue on pedestal | Bronze and granite | Category B | Q17811104 | [43] | |
) More images | Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch | West Parliament Square, Edinburgh | 1888 | Statue on pedestal and decorated tiers | Bronze and stone | Category A | Q17570712 | Architect: Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, decoration on pedestal and tiers by various sculptors [44] | |
) | General Gordon | St Paul's Cathedral, London | Chest tomb effigy | Marble | [13] |
1890 and later
| Image | Title / subject | Location and coordinates | Date | Type | Material | Dimensions | Designation | Wikidata | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Victoria | Langalibalele Street, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | 1890 | Statue on pedestal | Marble and stone | [45][46] | ||||
) More images | Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala | Queen's Gate, Kensington, London | 1891, relocated 1921 | Equestrian statue on pedestal | Bronze and granite | Grade II | Q26555957 | [47][48] | |
) More images | Edward VII | Jijamata Udyan, Mumbi | Equestrian statue on pedestal | Bronze | |||||
) | Equine statue | Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire | Equine statue on pedestal | Bronze and stone | Grade II | Q26453053 | [49] |
References
- ^ a b Mark Stocker (September 2004). "(Joseph) Edgar Boehm". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online, January 2008 ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2762. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j University of Glasgow History of Art / HATII (2011). "Sir (Joseph) Edgar Boehm Bart, RA". Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain & Ireland 1851–1951. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Walter Armstrong (1901). . Dictionary of National Biography (1st supplement). London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ^ a b "Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, Bt". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ a b c Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "Dalmeny (GDL00130)". Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ "Recording Field Visit". RCAHMS. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ^ Catalogue of British Fine Art Paris 1878
- ^ Stocker The Life and Work of Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm 1986 p.17 accessed 27 August 2019
- ^ Historic England. "Wellington Monument (1231514)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ "Hyde Park Corner". The Times. 21 July 1884. p. 10. (subscription needed)
- ^ Leonard Forrer (1904). Biographical dictionary of medallists: coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, &c., ancient and modern, with references to their works B. C. 500-A. D. 1900. Spink & Son ltd., London.
- ^ a b Arthur Dimock (1900). The Cathedral Church of St. Paul An Account of the Old and New Buildings with a Short Historical Sketch. Bell's Cathedrals. London: George Bell and Sons.
- ^ Susan Beattie (1983). The New Sculpture. Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art / Yale University Press. ISBN 0300033591.
- ^ "No. 25953". The London Gazette. 12 July 1889. p. 3779.
- ^ Lucinda Hawksley, Queen Victoria's Mysterious Daughter, Chapter 9 (St. Martin's Press, 2013)
- ^ Historic England. "Bunyan Monument (1128992)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Statue of Horse and Horse Tamer in Malvern Park (1342851)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Equestrian statue and plinth at centre of Stable Yard (1136244)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Statue of Sir John Fox Burgoyne (1066144)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ a b Historic England. "Temple Bar Memorial in centre of road (1264445)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Statue of Thomas Carlyle, Embankment Gardens (1080715)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Balmoral Castle, Statue of John Brown (Category A Listed Building) (LB51493)". Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Statue of Sir Francis Drake (1326211)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Drake statue (1386462)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Statue of William Tyndale (1357350)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "Folded hands of Archibald Campbell Tait, Archbishop of Canterbury". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ Geoff Downer (2019). "Memorial and Fittings stones, North East transept". Canterbury Historical and Archaeological Society. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Statue of MT Bass (1229897)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Statue of Lord Lawrence (1066146)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "Fountain: Herbert Stewart monument". London Remembers. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ "Balmoral Estate, Statue of Queen Victoria". CANMORE. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Balmoral Castle, Statue of Queen Victoria (Category A Listed Building) (LB51495)". Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Statue of Lord Iddesleigh (1267606)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ "Stafford Henry Northcote Statue". Exeter Memories. 5 June 2009. Archived from the original on 17 August 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Queen Victoria's Statue (1281362)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "Statue of Queen Victoria 1887". Yale Centre for British Art. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Statue of Albert, Prince Consort (1323670)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "Statue of Queen Victoria 1888". Yale Centre for British Art. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Wellington Monument (1231514)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Queen Victoria Statue (1355171)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "Statue of Queen Victoria 1888". Yale Centre for British Art. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Elder Park, Statue of John Elder (Category B Listed Building) (LB33305)". Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "High Street, Memorial to Walter Francis, 5th Duke of Buccleuch and 7th Duke of Queensberry (Category A Listed Building) (LB27844)". Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "Queen Victoria Statue". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "Statue of Queen Victoria". Yale Center for British Art. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Statue of Lord Napier of Magdala in centre of roadway at North end next to Kensington Road (1265357)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Statue of Field Marshal Lord Napier (1224311)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Statue of horse to centre of stable courtyard (1159341)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
External links
- 104 paintings by or after Joseph Edgar Boehm at the Art UK site
| Preceded by Leonard Charles Wyon | Coins of the pound sterling Obverse sculptor 1887 | Succeeded by Thomas Brock |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| New creation | Baronet (of Wetherby Gardens) 1889–1890 | Succeeded by Edgar Collin Boehm-Boteler |