“Icarus” by Sir Alfred Gilbert

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Icarus

Sir Alfred Gilbert, R. A. (1854-1934)

1884

Bronze

Height: 18 1/2 inches

W. H. Crawford-Clarke, Esq.

Exhibited: A.A., 1884; Minneapolis Institute of Arts. [British Sculpture 1850-1914, p. 24.]

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Frederic Leighton on a visit to Perugia commissioned this bronze statue leaving the choice of subject to Gilbert. Icarus was, at the same time, both a tribute to Leighton's well-known panting, Daedalus and lcarus, and another chapter in the series of autobiographical bronzes. Isabel MacAllister, Gilbert's first biographer, records him saying "It dashed across me that I was very ambitious: why not 'Icarus', with his desire for flight." [Gibson to Gilbert, p. 54.]

Bibliography

British Sculpture 1850-1914. A loan exhibition of sculpture and medals sponsored by The Victorian Society. London: Fine Art Society, 1968. no. 59.

Alfred Gilbert. Exhibition catalogue. London: Royal Academy, 1986. Nos. 15-17.

Dorment, Richard. Alfred Gilbert. New Haven and London: 1985. Pp. 46-50.

Gibson to Gilbert: British Sculpture 1840-1914. Exhibition catalogue. London: The Fine Art Society, 1992. No. 25.

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Created 1999

Last modified 5 February 2020