Photographs and caption material by Michael Statham, and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer, and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. Click on the images to enlarge them. —
Dogs setting on a stag (partly obscured by vegetation), a bas-relief on the façade of Insole Court by the stone-carvers of W. Clarke and Co. The reliefs can be dated from later than the 1870s and earlier than 1899. The panels are located between the ground and first floors on the westernmost two bay windows of the south elevation. This dramatic one is above the westernmost bay window on the left. The following reliefs are in the centre of this bay, and then on the right.
The central panel, which looks narrower here but is in fact the same height but longer, shows two otters. The level of detail, both in the animals themselves and their natural setting, is wonderful.
The next panel round on this bay shows two little terriers with a rabbit just peeping out of its burrow beneath them. This one is slightly comical, although the humour would have been lost on the rabbit.
Links to Related Material
- The Firm of W. Clarke, Llandaff - Sculpture and Building Works: A very brief history
- Animal carvings by the firm (2)
- William Willingale Taylor, master stone-carver closely associated with the firm
Created 15 January 2923