Allegorical scene with animals

On acquisition this group of reliefs (Museum nos. A.72 to A.79-1926) was thought by the then Keeper of the Department of Architecture and Sculpture, Eric Maclagan, to be related to the work of John Bacon the Elder (1740-1799), but he considered it to be probably early 19th century. The original contexts are unknown.

The original contexts are unknown. According to the donor, the present piece together with a further seven reliefs originally came from an unidentified house in the City of London, which was to be demolished. Between 1878 and 1916 they were placed over fireplaces in 1 Lowther Gardens, Prince's Gate, London.