Peter Vischer (1487–1528)

William Bell Scott (after) 12 Sep 1811 - 22 Nov 1890

Summary

One of '10 copies of mosaic wall decoration at the South Kensington Museum'. Bavarian brass caster, sculptor and draftsman Peter Vischer (the younger, 1487-1528) is depicted here in working attire, looking into the distance with a hammer in his right hand and a chisel in his left. On his belt there is a pocket of tools, and he wears a skullcap with the Star of David on the front. The inscription at the bottom reads: “Peter Vischer Nuremberg Sculptor Modeller”. Acquired as 'one of 10 copies of mosaic wall decorations at the South Kensington Museum'. The construction and decoration of the South Court of the Victoria and Albert Museum by Godfrey Sykes between 1860 and 1862 was further embellished 1862-71 with a series of life-size full-length portraits in mosaic of great artists which came to be known as the 'Kensington Valhalla'. The mosaics were in the paired niches above the main arches. Several leading contemporary artists supplied the full-size designs (which are in the V&A collections), including Cope, Leighton, Poynter, and Watts.