Recently, the fabulous plaque shown below crossed my path. It is unusual, perhaps even unique, in two ways: first, I can't recall another plaque with two hangers arranged in this way; and second and more importantly, it portrays a pivotal battle in European history.
The scene depicts the Battle of Vitoria. The figure on horseback is identified by a ribbon beneath impressed WELLINGTON, while the ribbon beneath the soldiers to the left is impressed VITTORIA {sic}.
At the battle of Vitoria in northern Spain on 21 June 1813, British forces under Arthur Wellesley, then the Marquess of Wellington, defeated Joseph Bonaparte (King of Spain and Napoleon's older brother). This facilitated Napoleon's defeat and abdication in April 1814. That same month, Wellington was made the Duke of Wellington for his contribution to securing the safety and sovereignty of the British nation.
Who was THE man of the twentieth century? I suspect that the name that will be remembered long after all others are forgotten is that of Adolf Hitler, to the eternal shame of the German nation. But to my mind the hero of the twentieth century was Sir Winston Churchill, whose inspirational leadership saved Britain and western civilization from the poisonous tentacles of evil intent on devouring Europe.
In the nineteenth century, the Duke of Wellington was the hero who saved Britain--and indeed Europe--from aggression, and today he is still remembered for his victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. But Staffordshire potters were slow to pay tribute to this great man. Despite Wellington's fame, the only figure I have seen that is definitively identified as him is the figure below, currently in the Potteries Museum. As you see, "Duke Wellington" has been scratched into the paint on the base, so there can be no argument.
Who was THE man of the twentieth century? I suspect that the name that will be remembered long after all others are forgotten is that of Adolf Hitler, to the eternal shame of the German nation. But to my mind the hero of the twentieth century was Sir Winston Churchill, whose inspirational leadership saved Britain and western civilization from the poisonous tentacles of evil intent on devouring Europe.
In the nineteenth century, the Duke of Wellington was the hero who saved Britain--and indeed Europe--from aggression, and today he is still remembered for his victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. But Staffordshire potters were slow to pay tribute to this great man. Despite Wellington's fame, the only figure I have seen that is definitively identified as him is the figure below, currently in the Potteries Museum. As you see, "Duke Wellington" has been scratched into the paint on the base, so there can be no argument.
The trouble is that I am not convinced this figure was modeled to be the Wellington. It is possible that the painter simply scratched "Duke Wellington" into the paint as an afterthought. Several variations on this model exist....but as yet another titled example has not come to light. (See www.mystaffordshirefigures.com/blog/duke-of-wellington)
When it comes to busts, we get somewhat luckier. Indeed, Wellington was modeled in bust form---but, whereas the potters created multiple variations of busts of other men who were long-dead and rather obscure, the bust shown below is their only depiction of Wellington. We can be sure the bust is Wellington because DUKE OF WELLINGTON is impressed on the front of the socle--impossible to see in this photo, I know.
When it comes to busts, we get somewhat luckier. Indeed, Wellington was modeled in bust form---but, whereas the potters created multiple variations of busts of other men who were long-dead and rather obscure, the bust shown below is their only depiction of Wellington. We can be sure the bust is Wellington because DUKE OF WELLINGTON is impressed on the front of the socle--impossible to see in this photo, I know.
Courtesy Wisbech & Fenland Museum.
Below is the reverse of the bust. The mark impressed on the lower edge of the socle....trust me, it is there!...is that of WOOD & CALDWELL. This tells us that it was made between 1814 (when Wellington became a duke) and 1818 (when the Wood & Caldwell partnership dissolved.) This bust, in the Wisbech & Fenland Museum, is 11.5" tall, but a 22" version (similarly marked) is in the Potteries Museum.
Courtesy Wisbech & Fenland Museum.
The Wellington bust was based upon a portrait bust by the English sculptor Joseph Nollekens (1737–1823). Nollekens carved his work in 1813 and exhibited it at the Royal Academy that year. Wellington's bared neck, blank eyes, and haughty expression appealed to the classicists and romantics of the day, and, given the Duke's fame, other artists were quick to jump on the bandwagon and replicate the bust in assorted materials.
I was intrigued to find a plaster version of Nolleken's bust in the collection of the Boston Athenaeum, gifted in 1817. At just over 22" in size, it (or another just like it) may well have been the design source for the 22" pottery bust in the Potteries Museum.
I was intrigued to find a plaster version of Nolleken's bust in the collection of the Boston Athenaeum, gifted in 1817. At just over 22" in size, it (or another just like it) may well have been the design source for the 22" pottery bust in the Potteries Museum.
(c) Boston Athenaeum
In the pre-Victorian era, Staffordshire portrayals of the Duke of Wellington appeared on jugs and other useful wares, but when it comes to figures...sadly, it just didn't happen.
With peace secured after Waterloo, Wellington re-entered politics. Known as the Iron Duke because of his fiery resolve, he served as prime minister for two years and died in 1852. From the 1840s, with the Duke in his final years, there seems to have been an awakening appreciation of his contribution to his nation, and Victorian potters portrayed Wellington as the elder statesman that he was.
With peace secured after Waterloo, Wellington re-entered politics. Known as the Iron Duke because of his fiery resolve, he served as prime minister for two years and died in 1852. From the 1840s, with the Duke in his final years, there seems to have been an awakening appreciation of his contribution to his nation, and Victorian potters portrayed Wellington as the elder statesman that he was.
Victorian figures of the Duke of Wellington, circa 1850. Courtesy Bearnes, Hampton & Littlewood.
