William McMillan

The Birth of Venus

exhibited 1931

Not on display

Artist: William McMillan 1887–1977
Medium: Portland stone
Dimensions: Object: 1289 × 533 × 356 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1931
Reference: N04602

Display caption

McMillan was born in Aberdeen and studied at art schools in Aberdeen and London. He was Head of the Sculpture School at the Royal Academy from 1929-40. He began to exhibit sculpture at the Royal Academy Summer exhibitions in 1917 and continued to do so until the 1940s. 'The Birth of Venus' was shown there in 1931 and made specifically for exhibition purposes, although McMillan usually worked on commissions. Significant public works by the artist include fountains in Trafalgar Square and Regent's Park, a portrait of George VI in the Mall, London, and a double portrait in stone of the pilots Alcock and Brown at Heathrow airport.

Gallery label, August 2004

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Catalogue entry

N04602 THE BIRTH OF VENUS c. 1931

Not inscribed.
Portland stone, 50 3/4×21×14 (129×53·5×35·5).
Chantrey Purchase from the artist 1931.
Exh: R.A., 1931 (1639).
Repr:Royal Academy Illustrated, 1931, pl.122; Eric G. Underwood, A Short History of English Sculpture, 1933, pl.48.

[no further details]

Published in:
Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture, London 1964, II