The Guardian of the Flame
Entry ID
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124 (11/02/2022)
Formal title of the work
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The Guardian of the Flame
Description of the sculpture
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Plaster and metal half-length statue depicting a nude male with a stylised face and two small, round protrusions emerging from his forehead. He wears a large bracelet on his lower right arm. The figure’s left arm is damaged (fallen off).
URLs where this is recorded/available
Type of object
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Statue: Half-length figure (single)
Base
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Base present - appears to be the original base
Dimensions
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Height: 137 cm
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Width: 56 cm
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Depth: 79 cm
Materials
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Plaster
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Metal (unidentified)
Specific techniques used
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Casting
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Modelling
Overall colour
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Monochrome – white
Does the Black person have a specific identity?
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Anonymous: generic/idealised type
Role within sculpture
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Main protagonist
Gender
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Male
Age
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Adolescent
Status
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Uncertain
Clothing
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Naked
Evidence of enslavement
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None
Evidence of 'exotic' status
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None
Action or activity
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Standing
Emotional state
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Indeterminate
Focus of gaze of Black person
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Unfocussed/blank eyeballs
Sculptural context
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No location included/implied
Sculptor
Place of production
Period of production
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Twentieth century (1900-1999)
Date inferred from
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Inferred from dates when sculptor is active
Original purpose
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Unknown
Original display setting
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Unknown
Current / most recently known location
Accession number
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FATMP001089
Notes
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Due to the damaged condition of this plaster sculpture, Brighton Museum and Art Gallery had a bronze version cast in order to preserve this work of art.
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Henry Thomas, Philpot's manservant, companion and muse, was the body model for this sculpture.
Related objects
Current rights holder
License terms for reuse
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
 The Guardian of the Flame |
Related objects | E22 Man-Made Object |
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
 Man Walking |
Associated with | E22 Man-Made Object |
http://13.41.147.145/s/database/item/38, . (no date) ‘The Guardian of the Flame’, Black People in European Sculpture, accessed May 5, 2025, http://13.41.147.145/s/database/item/1006
