80 - William Theed the Younger (Trentham, 1804 – London, 1891)

William Theed the Younger (Trentham, 1804 – London, 1891) Head of Ganymede, 1830 White marble, height 51 cm Signed and dated on the reverse: "W. Theed Fecit Roma 1830" The facial features are typical of classical sculpture, characterized by a straight nose, firm lips, and a defined jaw. The face is partially framed by a dense series of soft, symmetrical curls; the headdress is a typical conical Phrygian cap ending in a soft tip folded forward (now partially missing). Defects: This sculpture reflects the purism and formal idealization the artist absorbed during his stay in Rome, which lasted over twenty years, while studying and working closely with the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770–1844) and the Welsh sculptor John Gibson (1790–1866), who worked under the influence of Antonio Canova. For comparison, see our head alongside Thorvaldsen’s “Ganymede and the Eagle” and the neoclassical work by the Welsh sculptor John Gibson from 1824 depicting “Paris.”