Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project
Secular Hall: Busts of Free-Thinkers Photograph
Region ID | EM | |
Work ID | 122 | |
Manual Reference | LE127TCBM | |
Type | Sculpture | |
Title | Secular Hall: Busts of Free-Thinkers | |
Sculptor | Vago, Ambrose Louis | |
Architect | Sugden, W. Larner | |
Date of design | ||
Year of unveiling | 1881 | |
Unveiling details | ||
Road | Humberstone Gate | |
Precise Location | No. 75 Humberstone Gate (S. side) | |
A to Z Ref | 4 E3 (1) | |
OS Ref | SK589046 | |
Postcode | LE1 | |
Work is | Extant | |
Listing Status | II | |
Duty of Care | The Leicester Secular Society | |
Commissioned by | The Leicester Secular Society | |
Notes | ||
Each bust is framed within an aedicule over a pier capital bearing the subject’s name. All are portrayed with incised eyes, except for Socrates. Robert Owen, at extreme left, differs from the other four busts in that it is in pink terracotta (the rest being in orange), it is significantly smaller, and it is the only one inscribed with the subject’s name on the front of the bust. The Owen bust is neo-classical in format, nude and cut away, term-like at the shoulders, the head turned slightly to the viewer’s right. Thomas Paine is represented in period costume, with head turned slightly to the viewer’s left. Voltaire wears a riband encircling his hair and, around the shoulders, loose drapery. His head is turned to the viewer’s right. The model is most likely the head from the celebrated seated portrait of Voltaire by Houdon (1780). Jesus is full-face, eyes gazing slightly upwards and to the viewer’s left. The Socrates bust is copied from the famous classical antique sculpture [**details] - bearded, snub-nosed, with one piece of drapery hanging over the right shoulder. | ||
circa | ||
raw year | 1881 | |
Condition | Fair | |
At risk | Not at risk | |
Inscriptions | 1. on front of Owen bust, in incised Gothic lettering: R. Owen 2. in raised Roman letters on cartouches in carved foliated decoration of pier capitals below the aedicules containing the busts: - extreme left pier capital: ROBERT OWEN - second left pier capital: THOMAS PAINE - third left pier capital: VOLTAIRE [the return of this capital, in the main entrance archway, in inscribed, in the same style:] FRANCOIS MICHEL / AROVET [sic] - return and front face of pier capital to right of entrance archway: JESUS - extreme right pier capital: SOCRATES | |
Signatures | None | |
Elements
Element Details
Part of work | Material | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
Robert Owen bust | terracotta | h. 54 cm (est.) |
Thomas Paine bust | terracotta | h. 60 cm (est.) |
Voltaire bust | terracotta | h. 65 cm (est.) |
Jesus bust | terracotta | h. 68 cm (est.) |
Socrates bust | terracotta | h. 68 cm (est.) |
Assessment of Condition
Surface Character
Detail | Comment |
|---|---|
Accretions | Owen bust: blackened down left side of head, under jaw and over shoulders and throat; Paine and Voltaire busts: some blackening in hollows and crevices; Jesus and Socrates busts: slightly blackened in hollows and crevices. |
Abrasions, cracks, splits | Paine bust: numerous hairline cracks on head; Voltaire bust: superficial cracks to left upper shoulder |
Structural Condition
Structural Condition | Comment |
|---|---|
Cracks, splits, breaks, holes | Owen bust: 2 deep cracks, one running across left upper cheek and bridge of nose; another running vertically down left side of jaw and neck; Paine bust: deep crack across left upper part of head |
Vandalism
Vandalism | Comment |
|---|---|
None | |
