Virgin and Child

1867 · Relief · 40.5 × 33.5 cm

Can I see it?

Not on view at present

Where is “Virgin and Child” now? Collection: Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Not on view at present. Checked September 25, 2026.

Victoria and Albert Museum

London, United Kingdom

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked: 14 days ago
In this state since: Sep 25, 2026
Source: The museum

On the map Museum page

About the sculpture

This chased bronze panel by S. Beresford (active 1850-1900) is a copy of a relief (inv.no. 66-1866) in the Museum's collection in the style of the mid-15th-century Italian sculptor Desiderio da Settignano. Beresford was awarded a prize of £10 in the Society of Arts Art-Workmanship Competition of 1867. Beresford was a sculptor and medallist active in England in the second half of the 19th century. The original renaissance relief on which this version is based had been acquired by the Museum in 1866 (inv. no. 66-1866). Two other bronze versions of the renaissance original were acquired by the Museum in this same year, 1868, both likewise prize-winners in the Society of Arts Art-Workmanship competition, one by Thomas Nichols (inv. no. 857-1868), and the other by H.C. Hatfield Senior (inv. no. 858-1868).

Read on

Desiderio da Settignano (Desiderio de Bartolomeo di Francesco detto Ferro (c. 1428 or 1430 – 1464) was an Italian sculptor active during the Renaissance. He came from a family of stone carvers and stonemasons. His work is influenced by Donatello, and he was probably trained in the large Florentine workshop run by Bernardo and Antonio Rossellino.

'Chasing' is the skilful modelling or patterning of metal surfaces. This panel was entered in the Society of Arts Art-Workmanship competition of 1867. The amateur sculptor who made it was awarded a prize of £15.

Victoria and Albert Museum