Joseph Neeld, 6 Grosvenor Square [to John Gibson]

RA Collection: Archive

Archive context

Showing item 262 of 391 in this group

Reference code

GI/1/259

Title

Joseph Neeld, 6 Grosvenor Square [to John Gibson]

Date

04 Mar 1839

Level

Item

Extent & medium

1 piece

Historical Background

John Gibson's 'Venus Verticordia' (white marble, c. 1838-39) was commissioned by the wealthy MP Joseph Neeld and exhibited at the RA in 1839 (no. 1303), before going to Neeld's home, Grittleton House in Wiltshire. The work is now in the Fitwilliam Museum, Cambridge. The tinted 'Venus' is an exact copy of this work.

Content Description

Informing Gibson that his statue had arrived. Neeld would not have the work at his house until it had been exhibited at the Royal Academy. He would like a pedestal for the work, as Gibson had suggested, and presumed that Gibson would make it turn. Neeld asks how the work should be described in the RA catalogue.