Sir William Hamo Thornycroft English, 1850-1925
Signed and dated 'HAMO THORNYCORFT RA. Sc. 1888' and 'Hamo Thornycroft 1904', numbered 18 and marked L7
Conceived circa 1888. This bronze circa 1904
Bronze with dark brown patina
Further images
Of our boat passing heaved the river grass,
Stood with suspended scythe to see us pass’
Matthew Arnold, Thyrsis, lines 127–129
The Mower is one of Thornycroft’s most celebrated sculptures. The artist conceived the work around 1882, as he was boating down the river Thames, catching sight of a young farmer resting along its banks. Thornycroft sketched the figure quickly, writing in a letter to his fiancé Agatha Cox:
‘He will keep his hat on and carry his shirt on his right arm along with the scythe. A brace will pan over his left shoulder, which will take off the nude look and connect the hat with the breeches somewhat. This gives the hang of the shirt. It is a great help in solidifying the composition and supporting the scythe’.
Thornycroft used his favourite model, the Italian Orazio Cervi, to pose for the piece. Upon its completion in 1884, the Mowerwas displayed at the Royal Academy accompanied in the catalogue with lines from Matthew Arnlod’s poem Thyrsis, quoted above.
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