Young Romilly
Created by Alexander Munro
Date: 1863
Usually date of exhibition rather than production
Object class: sculpture
Object type: figure group
Material: stone - marble
Technique: carved
Description: This illustrates the legend of Young Romilly, William of Egremont, who in the thirteenth century was reputed to have fallen to his death with his dog down a narrow chasm, leading his mother to found Bolton Priory in Yorkshire in his memory. Munro represents Romilly on the point of falling to his death, his dog has bared teeth and is standing up on its hind legs to protect its master against hidden dangers. The model for William was one of the sons of Herbert Ingram, founder of the 'Illustrated London News', so Munro has carved the Ingram coat of arms on Romilly's tunic.
Notes: Munro was inspired by William Wordsworth’s poem 'The Force of Prayer'; or, 'The Founding of Bolton Abbey: A Tradition' (1807). The composition shows the artist's predilection for detailed naturalism and drama, recalling the style of the Pre-Raphaelites with whom he was closely associated.
Makers, Owners and Exhibitors
Owned by The National Galleries of Scotland
1993
Accession number: NG 2571. Purchased in
Sources
National Galleries of Scotland: online collection
http://www.nationalgalleries.org/index.php/collection/online_az/4:322/results/0/28803/ (accessed 3 September 2010)
Citing this record
'Young Romilly', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/object.php?id=ann_1283520435, accessed 10 Jun 2023]
