Erection date: 1909
J. E. Millais
The sculptor is elsewhere logged as James Alexander Stevenson but the niche gives "Mirande", as best we can read.
2022: We were contacted by Sally Platt, the great great niece of the sculptor, who explained: "The sculpture of the figure of John Millais on the facade of the museum was done by James Alexander Stevenson who signed himself as Myranda to avoid being confused with another artist of the same name."
Site: Victoria & Albert Museum façade (38 memorials)
SW7, Cromwell Road
Excluding the allegories (such as Knowledge) there are 36 statues on the two public façades of the V&A Museum, on Exhibition Road and Cromwell Road. This building was designed by Aston Webb and built 1899-1909. Each statue has the subject's name on a label beneath the feet and the sculptor's name inscribed in the wall of the niche to the right of the statue. Starting in Cromwell Road and reading right to left:
Group of 6 British architects:
Chas. Barry
W. Chambers
Chrisr. Wren
Inigo Jones
John Thorpe
Wykeham
Group of 5 British painters:
J. E. Millais
Ld. Leighton
G. F. Watts
J. Constable
J. M. W. Turner
And flanking the entrance:
Queen Alexandra (to the right)
King Edward VII (to the left)
Albert (below the arch)
Victoria (in the arch)
On either side of the arch, at eye level there is a foundation stone:
Stone laid by Edward VII (to the right)
Stone laid by Victoria (to the left)
Group of 5 British painters:
R. Cosway
G. Romney
T. Gainsborough
J. Reynolds
W. Hogarth
Group of 6 British sculptors:
Alfred Stevens
John H. Foley
F. L. Chantrey
John Flaxman
John Bacon
Grinlg. Gibbons
And around the corner in Exhibition Road:
Group of 5 British craftsmen:
William Morris
Roger Payne
J. Wedgwood
T. Chippendale
Thos. Tompion
Group of 5 British craftsmen:
Huntingn. Shaw
George Heriot
William Caxton
William Torel
St. Dunstan
Note that there are more Johns than women but that's not difficult since, excluding royalty, there are no women!
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