EDGAR GEORGE PAPWORTH (ENGLISH, 1832-1927): A CARVED MARBLE FIGURE OF A YOUNG BOY WITH A SHELL ON A SERPENTINE MARBLE PLINTH
the nude boy with drapery in his lap, seated on a rocky plinth and holding the conch shell to his left ear, signed to the reverse 'E.G. PAPWORTH 1870', raised on a 19th century Italian serpentine marble plinth with shaped demi-lune top with carved foliate decoration over the fluted column and octagonal base,
the marble figure 56cm high x 52cm wide, the column 85cm wide x 124cm high,
180cm high overall

E.G. Papworth was the son of a sculptor also known as E.G. Papworth, who had studied under the leading sculptor, E.H. Baily at a young age, and at the age of seventeen, in 1826, joined the Royal Academy. Papworth the elder married Caroline Baily, the daughter of his master E.H. Baily and E.G. Papworth the younger was born in 1832. Papworth the younger joined the Royal Academy in 1848 and exhibited there from 1852 to 1882. His 'Startled Nymph' which was commissioned by J. Neeld M.P. was lent to the Exhibition of Art Treasures held in Manchester in 1857, and exhibited at The International Exhibition, London, 1862. His work was well received and in 1862 several of his statues were reproduced in Parian ware, including 'The Young Emigrant', 'The Young Shrimper', 'Maidenhood' and 'Beatrice'.
Related Literature: R. Gunnis, 'Dictionary of British Sculptors 1600-1851', p.289.Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011.