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Title:
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Monument to the 2nd and 3rd Viscounts Melbourne
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Artist: |
Baron Carlo Marochetti
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This monument commemorates the Whig politician and prime minister, William Lamb 2nd Viscount Melbourne (1779-1848) and his brother, the diplomat, Frederick Lamb, 3rd Viscount Melbourne (1782-1853). It was erected in 1861. It has not as yet been possible to establish who paid for it, though the fact that it was put up so long after the death of both of those commemorated suggests that Viscount Palmerston, who became prime minister in 1859, may have instigated it. Palmerston was married to Emily Lamb, the sister of the two Viscounts Melbourne. Frederick Lamb had died childless and his fortune had then passed to his sister. The monument, like so many large 18th century memorials may therefore be said to commemorate the end of a line, since all Frederick Lamb's titles died with him.
The angels, holding one a sword, the other a trumpet, guarding the doors of the tomb, recall the imagery which Marochetti had unsuccessfully proposed for a memorial to the Duke of Wellington in St Paul's, though these are Christian angels, whereas the winged figure proposed for the Wellington memorial had been a Victory. A recent survey of monuments in St Paul's has claimed that the Melbourne Memorial was the first in the cathedral to commemorate a statesman, and the first also to employ specifically Christian imagery. The latter feature was clearly appreciated at the time. In an article in the City Press of 12 March 1870, the Melbourne Memorial was singled out for its pious intention: "since Marochetti's angels have guarded Viscount Melbourne's tomb, many a one has had a feast of beauty there that has kindled all the emotions that belong to acts of worship".
The Athenaeum, which seldom had a good word for Marochetti, gave lengthy coverage to the Melbourne Memorial, and what it had to say deserves quotation, since it attempts to locate the sculptor amongst the diverse stylistic strands of the sculpture of the day.
"Although not less out of keeping with the surrounding architecture than in the majority of the companion statues erected in the building, it is more interesting than the general run of such works............These figures have a character and expression which may be styled that of Romantic Art, that is to say, they are by no means such as are peculiar to Classic Art. The draperies are spirited and not ungraceful; the features formed are an expressive, if not an ideally beautiful model. On the whole, as we may say for many of the sculptor's better works, this design is more effective than beautiful, more telling than sound, yet, with many faults of execution, having a redeeming look of individuality and purpose not very common in sculptural art. Those who draw their opinion of Baron Marochetti's power from such failures as the 'Richard Coeur de Lion' at Westminster' will be agreeably surprised to find much that is valuable in this new work". (Athenaeum, no.1783, 28 Dec. 1861, p.889)
A later article in the Athenaeum entitled 'New Sculptures in St Paul's" was much less positive about the Melbourne Memorial, describing it as "commonplace and trivial" and "at variance with the architectural feeling of the cathedral itself", and finding that the surface of the marbles was "smoothed not finished with thoughtful and laborious art". Usefully however, this article tells us that "the marble is sensuously tinted, the hair gilded and set back meretriciously". This touch of polychromy, in keeping with other experiments conducted by Marochetti around this time, may have been added after the end of 1861, when the memorial was only so far completed as to allow the Athenaeum to provide its earlier description. No trace of this colour survives today. (Athenaeum, no.1841, 7 Feb. 1863, p.197)
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Material(s): |
Marble
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Medium: |
Unassigned |
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Finish: |
- |
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Technique: |
Carved |
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Genre: |
Funerary Monument
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Location: |
London, St Paul's Cathedral, , ,
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Colours: |
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Year: |
1861 |
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Height: |
0 metres |
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Width: |
0 metres |
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Depth: |
0 metres |
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Key: |
2524 |
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Acc. No.: |
2524 |
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Col. No.: |
2524 |
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Number of views: |
3491 |
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