La Flandre

Artist James Pittendrigh Macgillivray (Inverurie, Scotland, 1856 - 1938)

Date1914

Mediumbronze on wood

ClassificationsSculptures

DimensionsOverall: Height: 29 cm, Width: 23.5 cm, Depth: 13 cm
Plinth Size: Height: 9.2 cm, Width: 8 cm, Depth: 7.4 cm

AcquisitionPurchased in 1972.

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationHistoric Loss - research into this object's history and current status is ongoing

Object numberABDAG004676

Keywords

Nude

About MeThe war years were to be James Pittendrigh MacGillivray's most creative period. Over the next few years, MacGillivray's attitude to the First World War would change dramatically. Any initial hope and optimism was extremely short-lived. Quickly, he came to know the true horror of war and would express this through his sculpture. He was also struck down by personal tragedy at this time, with the death of his eldest daughter in 1917, and he never worked so prolifically in sculpture again.
La Flandre is MacGillivray's personification of Flanders as an heroic embodiment of Victory. His optimism and pride at the outbreak of war is visible in the figure's flowing hair and the sprigs of laurel on her body.