Vulcan (or possibly Prometheus) chained to a rock

ca. 1710 · Sculpture

Can I see it?

Yes, on view now

Where is “Vulcan (or possibly Prometheus) chained to a rock” now? Victoria and Albert Museum, Sculpture, Room 22, The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Galleries, London. Yes, on view now. Checked September 25, 2026.

Victoria and Albert Museum

London, United Kingdom

RoomSculpture, Room 22, The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Galleries

Closed· opens tomorrow at 10:00 AM

On public display.

Checked: 15 days ago
In this state since: Sep 25, 2026
Source: The museum

On the map Museum page

About the sculpture

The figure is closely related to David's statue of St Bartholomew in the church of S. Maria di Carignano in Genoa, Italy. Malcolm Baker has suggested that it's one of the few free-standing sculptures of mythological figures to have been executed by a sculptor working in England in the first half of the 18th century'.

Read on

Although traditionally thought to represent the mythical Prometheus, chained to a rock by the god Jupiter, the figure probably represents Vulcan. The diary of Sir Matthew Decker, who saw the piece in its original setting in 1728, provides an explanation of its symbolism. Placed on the landing half-way up the main staircase, the figure was intended to be accompanied by a further figure of William III, as part of an allegorical representation of how William's arrival in England and the Glorious Revolution of 1688 had averted a civil war. 'Vulcan is accordingly represented as chained, rather than fashioning the instruments of war.'

Victoria and Albert Museum