The form of this corner cabinet reflects the simplicity and elegance of Chinese design, a source of inspiration, together with Japanese art, to many artists in the Aesthetic Movement. Depicted in the Pre-Raphaelite style in the central panel is Lucretia, a Roman matron whose suicide after being violated by the son of the king of Rome caused an uprising that resulted in Rome becoming a republic. Lucretia's virtues are inscribed in the halos of the two figures on side panels: CASTITAS (chastity) and FORTITUDO (courage).
Details
| Artist | Edward William Godwin, English, 1833-1886 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Charles Fairfax Murray, English, 1849-1919 |
| Manufacturer | Collinson and Lock |
| Title |
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| Date | 1873 |
| Medium | Rosewood, painted panels, brass |
| Dimensions | Overall: 74 7/8 × 31 1/8 × 25 1/8 inches (190.2 × 79.1 × 63.8 cm) Overall (cabinet): 39 1/4 × 31 1/8 × 25 1/8 inches (99.7 × 79.1 × 63.8 cm) Overall (base): 35 5/8 × 31 1/8 × 22 inches (90.5 × 79.1 × 55.9 cm) |
| Credit Line | Founders Society Purchase, European Sculpture and Decorative Arts General Fund and the Honorarium and Memorial Gifts Fund |
| Accession Number | 1985.1 |
| Department | European Sculpture and Dec Arts |
| On View | Modern N2BB, Level 2 (see map) |
Signed, Marks, Inscriptions
| Signed | Signed, on central panel of Lucretia, for: CFM [for Charles Fairfax Murray] |
|---|---|
| Marks | Stamp, inside third drawer: COLLINSON & LOCK Stamp, inside top drawer: EDWARDS & ROBERTS |
| Inscriptions | Inscribed, ob central panel of Lucretia: Lucretia Nimbus Inscribed, on left door: CASTITAS Inscribed, on right door, on Halo: FORTITUDO |
Provenance
Lord Glenconnor (Colin Tennant);
Haslam and Whiteway Ltd., London, England);
1985-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
Haslam and Whiteway Ltd., London, England);
1985-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
Published References
The Furniture Gazette, September 7, 1878, p. 158.
The Furniture Gazette, March 1, 1879.
The British Architect, July 12, 1878.
Masterpieces of the Centennial Exhibition, vol. II. Philadelphia, 1876, p. 168.
Bulletin of the DIA: Annual Report 62, no. 2 (1985): p. 32 (fig. 23).
Aslin, E. E.W. Godwin: Furniture and Interior Decoration. London, 1986, p. 17, no. 42, (figs. 18, 42).
In Pursuit of Beauty: American and the Aesthetic Movement. Exh. cat., Metropolitain Museum of Art. New York, 1986, pp 150-151( fig. 5.9).
Barnet, P. "From the Middle Ages to the Victorians." Apollo 124, no. 298 (December 1986): p. 505.
Kinchin, J. "Collinson and Lock, manufacturers of artistic furniture." Connoisseur 201, no. 807 (May 1979): p. 51 (fig. 8).
Cooper, Jeremy. Victorian and Edwardian Décor: From the Gothic Revival to Art Nouveau. New York, 1987, p. 141 (ill.), fig. 330.
Darr, A.P. "European sculpture and decorative arts acquired by the Detroit Institute of Arts 1978-87." The Burlington Magazine 130 (June 1988): p. 500 (fig. 115).
Weber Soros, Susan. The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin. New Haven, 1999, p. 208 (ill.), no. 332.
1900 British Masters. Exh. cat., Oscar Graf Decorative Arts at TEFAF, New York, 2017. Paris, 2017, pp. 6, 10 (ill.).
The Furniture Gazette, March 1, 1879.
The British Architect, July 12, 1878.
Masterpieces of the Centennial Exhibition, vol. II. Philadelphia, 1876, p. 168.
Bulletin of the DIA: Annual Report 62, no. 2 (1985): p. 32 (fig. 23).
Aslin, E. E.W. Godwin: Furniture and Interior Decoration. London, 1986, p. 17, no. 42, (figs. 18, 42).
In Pursuit of Beauty: American and the Aesthetic Movement. Exh. cat., Metropolitain Museum of Art. New York, 1986, pp 150-151( fig. 5.9).
Barnet, P. "From the Middle Ages to the Victorians." Apollo 124, no. 298 (December 1986): p. 505.
Kinchin, J. "Collinson and Lock, manufacturers of artistic furniture." Connoisseur 201, no. 807 (May 1979): p. 51 (fig. 8).
Cooper, Jeremy. Victorian and Edwardian Décor: From the Gothic Revival to Art Nouveau. New York, 1987, p. 141 (ill.), fig. 330.
Darr, A.P. "European sculpture and decorative arts acquired by the Detroit Institute of Arts 1978-87." The Burlington Magazine 130 (June 1988): p. 500 (fig. 115).
Weber Soros, Susan. The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin. New Haven, 1999, p. 208 (ill.), no. 332.
1900 British Masters. Exh. cat., Oscar Graf Decorative Arts at TEFAF, New York, 2017. Paris, 2017, pp. 6, 10 (ill.).