Attributed James Havard Thomas (British, 1854-1921): A rare and apparently unique patinated bron...

Attributed James Havard Thomas (British, 1854-1921): A rare and apparently unique patinated bronze figure of Edmund Burke (Irish, 1729-1797) Probably a presentation reduction or possibly a cast taken from the marquette of the original monument unveiled to the memory of Burke in Bristol city centre in October 1894 The figure clad in breeches and frock coat, his head turned slightly to dexter, his hair worn en queue, his right arm raised, on square plinth base, with inscribed title EDMUND BURKE, 65cm high overall Footnotes: Provenance Private UK (Bristol) collection Acquired by the vendor's father when working in the antique trade in Bristol in the 1970's. It is likely that the offered lot is either a presentation bronze reduction or perhaps a cast taken from the original working maquette for the monumental bronze statue to the Irish politician, philosopher and writer Edmund Burke who was MP for Bristol between 1774 and 1780. The statue was commissioned from the celebrated British sculptor James Harvard Thomas whilst he was living in Capri by Sir William Henry Wills of the Wills tobacco dynasty of Bristol as a gift to his 'fellow citizens' and was cast by the famous Sommer Foundry in Naples where Thomas studied bronze casting.  It was unveiled in Colston Avenue in Bristol city centre by the Liberal Prime Minister, Lord Rosebery in October 1894 and was enthusiastically reported by the Western Daily Press on their front page.  Ironically, the Western Daily Press, in a book published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of paper in 1908, mistakenly stated that the statue was a replica of one in the Houses of Parliament by the renowned sculptor William Theed (1804-1891).  The statue was placed on an Aberdeen granite pedestal with an inscription including the dates '1774-1780' which was the period that Burke served as an MP to Bristol. In 'The Sculpted City', Douglas Merritt ARCA FSCD FRSA, a publication from 2002 documenting Bristol's sculptural highlights, Merritt questions why a statue of Burke was commissioned, given his support for the American revolutionaries and his role as an agent for the State of New York. He explains that Burke was later regarded as a 'liberal,' and since the Liberal Party had strong backing in Bristol in the late 19th century—when relations between Britain and the United States were improving—his views aligned with the city's political climate.  He also notes that Bristol's general attitude at the time was one of fostering goodwill toward America, likely due to the city's importance as a trading port. This sentiment was further reflected in the construction of Cabot Tower in 1887, which commemorated the four-hundredth anniversary of John Cabot's voyages and symbolized a gesture of friendship and peace with the Americas. Merritt also mentions that a 75cm high bronze of the sculptor's plaster model was auctioned in Bristol in 1977 which had been recently (2002) traced to a private collector in Bristol. It is possibly that the offered bronze is one and the same, as although this figure was acquired privately rather than from auction and is in fact 65cm high, it could be that this information was incorrectly collated by the author at the time of publication. As a postscript to the unveiling of the original statue, a later bronze of Burke, cast after Harvard Thomas's original, was unveiled in Washington, D.C., in October 1922. Reputedly cast in Cheltenham a year after Thomas's death, it was placed in Burke Park at the intersection of 11th Street, L Street, and Massachusetts Avenue. The statue was a gift from Charles Wakefield, 1st Viscount Wakefield, on behalf of the Sulgrave Institution, an organization dedicated to fostering British American relations.  Although an argument could be made that the offered bronze may also date from this slightly later time, this seems unlikely given that the commission was cast for an American location and following through any reduction would almost have certainly been sent to Washington to coincide with the inauguration ceremony. James Havard Thomas (1854–1921) James Havard Thomas was a Bristol-born sculptor active in London and the municipality of Capri, near Naples, Italy. A key figure in British sculpture, his meticulous approach to his art aligned him with the 'New Sculpture' movement in the late 19th century, and he was a founding member of the New English Art Club in 1886. Thomas studied at the Bristol School of Art, the National Art Training School (now the Royal College of Art), and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under Pierre-Jules Cavelier. In 1889, he moved to Italy, where he studied bronze casting in Naples before settling in Capri. He joined the Royal Society of British Sculptors in 1905 and returned to London in 1906. In 1911, he joined the Slade School of Art, where he became the first Chair of Sculpture in 1914, a position he held until his death in 1921. Thomas's work was widely exhibited throughout Great Britain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including at the Carfax Gallery, Grosvenor Gallery, Royal Academy, and the Royal Scottish Academy.  He died at his home in Chelsea, London, on 6 June 1921 and memorial exhibitions were held at the Leicester Galleries in 1922 and the Beaux Arts Gallery in 1936. Edmund Burke (1729–1797) Edmund Burke was an important Anglo-Irish politician, philosopher, and thinker who served as a Member of Parliament from 1766 to 1794. His time as Member of Parliament for Bristol, Britain's second-largest city and a busy trade centre, shaped much of his political career. Burke's election to represent Bristol in 1774 marked a significant point in his life, as it showed his dedication to the broader national interests, rather than just focusing on local issues. During his time in Parliament, he supported America's fight for more independence and sympathised with the American cause. Burke believed in liberty and self-rule, ideas central to British constitutional values. He strongly opposed British policies that sought to control the American colonies, arguing in his speeches, 'On American Taxation' and 'On Conciliation with America', delivered in 1774 and 1775, that the colonies should manage their own taxes and governance. He believed this approach would help keep the colonies loyal to Britain and avoid using force to control them. His support for America and other views, like free trade with Ireland and Catholic rights, caused tension with some of his Bristol supporters. These disagreements led to his loss in the 1780 election. Afterward, he represented Malton, a district in the North Riding of Yorkshire with fewer electoral challenges, but his time in Bristol remained an important part of his career. Burke's political beliefs, including his support for constitutional government and opposition to radical change, were clear throughout his life. He strongly opposed the French Revolution, fearing it would bring chaos and tyranny, and he worked to impeach Warren Hastings, Governor General of India for his part in the corruption scandal which bought disrepute to Britain in 1775. Despite the controversies during his career, Burke's legacy as a supporter of gradual reform and representative government, especially in his defence of American autonomy, made him a key figure in the development of modern conservatism. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TP TP For auctions held in Scotland: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage locat For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing