Detail View: The AMICA Library: Kiss of Victory

AMICA ID: 
MIA_.76.32
AMICA Library Year: 
2000
Object Type: 
Sculpture
Creator Name: 
Gilbert, Alfred
Creator Nationality: 
European; British; English
Creator Role: 
sculptor
Creator Dates/Places: 
1854 - 1934
Gender: 
M
Creator Name-CRT: 
Sir Alfred Gilbert
Title: 
Kiss of Victory
View: 
Front
Creation Date: 
1878 - 1881
Creation Start Date: 
1878
Creation End Date: 
1881
Materials and Techniques: 
marble
Classification Term: 
Marble
Dimensions: 
H.89-1/2 in.
Component Measured: 
Height only
Measurement Unit: 
in
AMICA Contributor: 
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Owner Location: 
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
ID Number: 
76.32
Credit Line: 
The John R. Van Derlip Fund
Rights: 
Context: 

Alfred Gilbert's commemorative sculpture Kiss of Victory shows a Roman legionary fallen in battle embraced at the moment of death by the genius or spirit of victory. It is possible that Gilbert began this sculpture as a private memorial to his brother Gordon who had died only months before Gilbert started working on the piece. Although designed in Paris, while Gilbert was a student at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, his teacher, Pierre-Jules Cavelier, encouraged Gilbert to travel to Rome and execute the sculpture in marble.

Kiss of Victory was commissioned by Somerset Beaumont (1835-1921), one of Gilbert's most loyal patrons and friends throughout his career. As a private commission, the sculpture was intended to be seen close up in an intimate space such as a drawing room or entrance hall.

Related Image Identifier Link: 
MIA_.6192c.tif