Calliope, Muse of Heroic Poetry
John Nost II (d. London 1729)
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
Unknown
Materials
Lead
Measurements
1960 mm (Height)
Collection
Stowe, Buckinghamshire
NT 91819
Summary
Lead sculpture, Calliope, The Muse of Heroic or Epic Poetry. Commissioned by Sir Richard Temple, Viscount Cobham (1675-1749) in c.1717 and attributed to the sculptor John Nost II (died 1729). The statue was originally situated, as part of the Nine Muses, within niched hedges on the parterre. In 1756 Richard Grenville, second Earl Temple (1711–1779) had the Grenville Column (NT 91969) relocated to the Elysian Fields and the statue of Calliope was repositioned on top of the Column to form part of the iconography to commemorate his brother, Captain Thomas Grenville (1719-1747). A scroll with the words ‘Non nisi grandia canto’; or Of none but heroic deeds I sing, was added to the statue. Calliope is depicted as a full-length classical woman in drapery, the hem pinned up to expose the proper right leg and draped across the body to expose the proper left shoulder; Calliope is turning to proper left and holding a scroll between her hands.
Full description
This sculpture was originally part of an earlier phase of Stowe’s garden design and part of a larger group of statues positioned on the vast southern parterre that was laid out between 1713 and 1717. The parterre was removed as part of the naturalisation work undertaken in the 1740’s and the statues were re-located around the gardens at Stowe. This wider statue group included Apollo and the Nine Muses and four allegorical figures or Arts. The earliest reference to these statues is a visitor account from 1724: ‘The main Parterre is surrounded with an Amphitheatre of Ewe Niches, with the Muses etc between them.’ The earlier, formal setting for these statues is also depicted in two engravings of the Parterre by Jacques Rigaud (1681-1754) made in c. 1733 which show the statues alternating with urns and mounted in niches cut into yew hedges. Gilbert West (1703-1756), one of Lord Cobham’s nephews, refers to these statues in a topographical poem, published anonymously in 1732; ‘To Phoebus, and th’ attendant Virgin Train/ That o’er each Verse, each learned Science reign/ And round embellishing the gay Parterre/ Unite their sacred Influences there.’ In 1756/57, this statue was repositioned on top of the Grenville Column and a scroll with the words ‘Non nisi grandia canto’; or Of none but heroic deeds I sing was added. Several historic illustrations depict the statue in this location, and the 1805 sketch by Jean Claude Nattes shows the statue with the scroll unfurled between her hands. Traditionally, the Muse Calliope presides over Epic or Heroic Poetry and is one of the Nine Muses, or the goddesses of creative inspiration. Her repositioning on the Grenville Column – with its naval and heroic themes and inscriptions - further enhanced the memorial to Captain Thomas Grenville who lost his life at the First Battle of Cape Finisterre in 1741 whilst in the protection of Britain and British Liberty. It is unclear if the statue of Heroic or Epic Poetry began as the Muse Calliope or one of the Arts originally on the Stowe Parterre. All these statues were relocated – some several times – as the gardens at Stowe were naturalised. It is likely that Calliope was one of the four Arts as her relocation on the Grenville Column in 1756 means that she is not part of the Nine Muses group, which is relocated for the final time in 1768. This sculpture is the only surviving statue from the original parterre to remain at Stowe; two others from the wider set were relocated onto the roof of the Temple of Concord and Victory in c.1755. These were sold in 1921 and are now in the National Trust collection at Anglesey Abbey. NT 515149 ‘Painting’ & NT 515148 ‘Sculpture’ are likely from the set of four Arts and are of the same quality, style, scale and proportion to Calliope.
Provenance
Commissioned by Sir Richard Temple, Viscount Cobham (1675-1749) in c.1717 and installed on the south front parterre. Relocated by first Earl Temple (1711-1779) to the top of the Grenville Column/Monument in 1756. Listed for sale but not sold in: ‘The Ducal Estate of Stowe, near Buckingham […]’, 1921, the Eighteenth Day’s Sale, lot 3784, p. 226: ‘…Upon the top. Heroic Poetry holds in her hand a scroll, with inscription […]'. Also unsold in ‘The Ducal Estate of Stowe, near Buckingham […]’, 1922, the Second Day’s Sale, lot 83, page 13: ‘…surmounted by a leaden figure of “Heroic Poetry” […] One of the garden monuments transferred to the National Trust along with the gardens in 1989 by Stowe School.
Marks and inscriptions
Non nisi grandia canto (on scroll)
Makers and roles
John Nost II (d. London 1729), sculptor Peter Scheemakers (Antwerp 1691 - Antwerp 1781) , sculptor
References
Clarke 1990: George B. Clarke, Descriptions of Lord Cobham’s Gardens at Stowe (1700-1750), no. 26. Buckinghamshire Record Society, Dorchester 1990, p.19 West 1732: Gilbert West. Stowe: the gardens of the Right Honourable Richard Lord Viscount Cobham. Address’d to Mr. Pope. London: Printed for L. Gilliver at Homer’s Head in Fleet-Street, London 1732, pp.4-5