Vulcan (or possibly Prometheus) chained to a rock

myminifactory

The figure bears a striking resemblance to David's statue of St Bartholomew in S. Maria di Carignano church, Genoa, Italy. Malcolm Baker suggests that it is one of the rare free-standing sculptures of mythological figures crafted by an English sculptor in the first half of the 18th century. Traditionally thought to depict Prometheus, chained to a rock by Jupiter, the figure likely represents Vulcan. Sir Matthew Decker's diary provides insight into its symbolism. Placed on a landing halfway up the main staircase, it was meant to be accompanied by William III, part of an allegorical representation of how William's arrival in England and the Glorious Revolution of 1688 prevented civil war. 'Vulcan is depicted as chained, rather than forging tools of war.' Sculpture Room 22, The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Galleries, case FS, shelf WS features this object. This sculpture is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully printable sculptures and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan The World is an open source community effort; if you have interesting items and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how. Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.