| Description Of Item | This fully draped female figure is depicted with her right hand outstretched, whilst in her left hand she holds three plants, probably some fruit or vegetables. There is a ring on her first left finger and she also wears a bracelet, in the shape of a snake on her left wrist. This is the only figure on which the figure of the snake appears, suggesting that this figure may be intended to represent, or be associated in some way, with Hygeia.
In total 24 female figures stand above the architrave in the Great Hall. However, there are only eight unique figures in the set as figures 4, 5, 7 and 8 are repeated twice, whilst figures 1 – 3 and 6 are repeated four times.
In 1865 the Great Hall was expanded under the architect David Bryce, who ordered the roundel portraits and high relief figures from George MacCallum. The female figures cost £17 each and the entire group of 24 came to the considerable total of £408. However, whilst MacCallum was paid for the pieces it cannot be conclusively stated that he was responsible for their creation, as he may have purchased the figures from another source, potentially D. Brucciani & Co. who were major manufacturers of plaster casts of classical sculptures during this period.
It has been suggested that these classical female statues may be intended to represent Hygeia, who is also depicted in a statue above the main portico. However, as all of the figures in the hall, with the exception of figure three, are represented without the traditional symbols of Hygeia, the snake and cup, it is not possible to definitively conclude on the identity of these classicised female figures. Therefore, it is possible that these figures were chosen for their aesthetic effect rather than any symbolic importance.
Artist: Unknown |