Lot 1148: William Theed, the younger (1804-1891): A White

William Theed, the younger (1804-1891): A White Marble Figure of Prometheus, signed and dated 1851, 192cm high The Great Exhibition of 1851: item 1255. William Theed was born in Trentham in Staffordshire, the son of William Theed II (1764-1817) who was working for Wedgwood. He attended the Royal Academy Schools and worked in the studio of EH Baily before leaving for Rome in 1826 where he studied under Bertel Thorwaldsen, John Gibson and Richard James Wyatt. In 1844 two of his designs, Psyche Lamenting the Loss of Cupid and Narcissus at the Fountain (Royal Collection), were accepted for Osborne House which had recently been acquired by the Queen; and so with commissions flooding in he returned to London. In 1850 he completed a work for the Royal Academy entitled Rebekah followed shortly by Prometheus in 1851 which was also shown at The British Institution in the same year. . His Royal commissions continued and he went on to complete reliefs, busts (one of them in memory of Prince Albert 1862 in the Blue Room at Windsor Castle, where the prince died) and public statues for the Palace. In 1861 was chosen by Queen Victoria to take the death mask of the Prince Consort. Works remain on display, including Africa on the north east angle of the pedestal of the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, Musidora at Marlborough House, and twelve alto-relievos of subject from English History in the Prince's Chamber in the House of Lords. Robert Hunt; Hunt's Handbook to the Official Catalogues of the Great Exhibition: An Explanatory Guide to the Natural Productions and Manufactures of the Great Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, 1851. Ref 13. Theed, W, 12A Henrietta Street, Cavendish Square A full list of his works is available for view with the sale.