Sculptures to Explore from the Isle of Man

In 2020 the Black Lives Matter movement focused attention on one of our 19th century sculptures. As you'll find out it shone the spotlight on a remarkable black Victorian. It's this and other recently digitised works we'd like you now to discover.

A half life-size statue of a female figure entitled 'Mona', representing a physical embodiment of the Isle of Man. The statue was produced by Joseph W. Swynnerton of Douglas (1848-1910) in 1875 when Swynnerton was studying in Rome.

A marble bust of James Brown, reformer, journalist and founder of the Isle of Man Times, by Joseph William Swynnerton of Douglas (1848-1910). 

James Brown (1815-1881) was the son of a freed slave. In 1846 he came to the Isle of Man from Liverpool. He founded the Isle of Man Times in 1861 and waged a campaign against the Island's Government to introduce reforms such as a popularly elected House of Keys. 

A bronze sculpture of the head of Daniel Cottier, stained glass artist (1838-1891) sculpted by Olin Levi Warner in 1878. 

Daniel Cottier is considered to be an important influence on Louis Comfort Tiffany and also is credited with introducing the Aesthetic movement to America and Australia. Cottier's family was from Lezayre, Isle of Man.

A marble bust of Thomas Edward Brown (1830-97), the Manx national poet, by Joseph William Swynnerton of Douglas (1848-1910). 

T.E. Brown (as he's best known as) was born in Braddan, Isle of Man. He was renowned in England for his work as an educationalist. On the Isle of Man his fame is as the Island's most eminent poet whose work captured the lives and ways of the Manx people in their own dialect.

Executed in 1893, this bronze head of a child wearing a hood or cowl is the work of artist Frank Mowbray Taubman (1868-1946). Of Manx parentage, Taubman spent much of his working life in London. An intriguing aspect of this piece is the inclusion of a Masonic square and compass.

Bronze sculpture of the head of a young female in Art Deco style. The sculpture is by Frank Mowbray Taubman (1868-1946) and is entitled 'Phoebe'. The artist was the son of Robert Taubman who was born c.1841 in Ballaugh, Isle of Man.

This white alabaster sculpture depicts a female figure. The sculpture, mounted on a wood base, is painted black with a gold coloured square adhered to the surface. It was sculpted by Maurice Day (1929-2007) in 1948 and is one of Day's first pieces of carving.

Three tree heads by David Gilbert (1928-2016). In 1971 the Gilbert family moved to the Isle of Man and lived on a small holding near Bishopscourt on the west coast of the Island.

A hypothetical monument by Michael Sandle RA (1936- ) first shown at Fischer Fine Art. It features the most famous aeroplane of Bomber Command, a Lancaster. The monument was sculpted in 1981.

Tortoise sculpture by Bryan Kneale RA (1930- ), one of the most accomplished of the modern generation of Manx artists.

This piece was inspired by Kneale’s work on the bone collection at the Natural History Museum, London.

A sculpture by living artist Paul Ford depicting an upright human wrapped in a Manx flag and stood in a metal cage.

The sculpture is ambiguous. Does it represent a Manx cultural identity that is dead or fossilised? Or does it represent an identity that is standing proud and protected, impervious to change?

You can read more about these sculptures and explore the collection more widely by visiting www.imuseum.im

(Photo: Installation of Yn Arreyder ('The Watcher') by Bryan Kneale, outside the Manx Museum, September 1977.)