JOHN BELL (1811-1895) FOR MINTON & CO. 'DOROTHEA' & 'CLORINDA', CIRCA 1847-8 polychrome parianware, 'Clorinda' stamped MINTON/ 203, and incised JOHN BELL/ FEBRUARY/ 1848, 33.5cm high; 'Dorothea' with moulded decorator marks, stamped MINTON, with moulded registration lozenge for 1847, 34cm high Qty: (2) Provenance: The Peter Rose and Albert Gallichan Collection Footnote: Literature: Coleman, B., The Best of British Arts & Crafts, Atglen, 2004, pp. 74, 77-79 Note: John Bell was an esteemed British sculptor, having begun his training at the Royal Academy Schools in 1839. In the years that followed he gained widespread critical acclaim, notably from Prince Albert who became a patron of his work, and had produced some of his best-known sculptures including Psyche and the Dove, and The Eagle-Shooter, the latter becoming the first sculpture to be produced in cast-iron, and was exhibited at The Great Exhibition in 1851. During the 1840s Bell partnered with Henry Cole to produce a number of designs for his company Felix Summerly. A prolific designer, he frequently worked with a variety of materials, including metalwork and ceramics. It was around this time that Bell collaborated with several companies like Minton to recreate his sculptures in Parian ware. These sculptures were immensely popular in the late 19th century, conjuring up notions of the exclusive Grand Tour and representing a superior knowledge of Rome and Classical Antiquities. Minton are thought to have produced around 500 figures between 1845 and 1910, with Bell’s Dorothea proving a particularly popular example. Some of Bell’s larger public commissions include The Guards Crimean War Memorial, near Regent Street and Pall Mall in London, as well as the marble group representing America on the Albert Memorial.