Who painted Head of Melpome?

Head of Melpome was painted by George Gammon Adams in 1840.

Where can I see Head of Melpome?

Head of Melpome is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Head of Melpome?

Head of Melpome is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Head of Melpome?

Museum-quality prints of Head of Melpome are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Head of Melpome

George Gammon Adams , 1840

Head of Melpome is a print by the Romanticist artist George Gammon Adams. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

The roundel came to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1980 as part of a gift from the artist’s daughter.

This is a small red wax medal head of Melpomene. It’s not a painting, it’s an impression stamped into hardened wax by George Gammon Adams around 1840.

Medals often honor people or ideas. Adams used this one to show Melpomene, the muse of tragedy. The wax keeps a sharp, delicate imprint of her face.

The roundel came to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1980 as part of a gift from the artist’s daughter.

museum: Victoria and Albert Museum

Overview

This hardened red wax die impression of a medal portrays the head of Melpomene in profile, adorned with vine leaves and clusters of grapes. The work is signed by George Gammon Adams, a British portrait sculptor and medallist active in the 19th century. It was donated to the museum in 1980 by the artist’s daughter, I. D. Adams, as part of a larger collection of models and sculptures. The precise date of creation for this impression remains uncertain.

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Artist & collection

Artist

George Gammon Adams

George Gammon Adams (21 April 1821 – 14 March 1898; sometimes spelled George Gamon Adams or George Gannon Adams) was an English portrait sculptor and medallist, noted for his statue of General Charles Napier in Trafalgar Square.