| Administrative History | The sculpture, based on a plaster version created in 1844 and exhibited at the 1851 Great Exhibition, was commissioned in July 1863 by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Fine Arts Committee for £500, to display in the conservatory of the RHS South Kensington Gardens, which adjoined the South entrance of the Royal Albert Hall from 1871-1899. The sculpture at that time was called 'The Boy at a Stream'. The RHS commissioned the sculpture because at the wish of the late Prince Albert, President of the RHS, that the gardens should bring together horticulture and sculpture. Out of the profits of the Society 500 guineas were to be set aside annually for the purpose of inviting competitions so that a sculpture gallery might be established in the gardens. The Royal Commission as landlord received 50% of the garden's profits and also contributed half the money to purchase the sculpture. |
| Custodial History | Foley did not deliver the commissioned statue to the RHS until 1870, by which time the Society no longer wanted it. The RHS tried unsuccessfully to sell the sculpture at the International Exhibition of 1872 where it was displayed in the western quadrant.
The sculpture was loaned to the Commissioners of the International Exhibitions of Sydney and Melbourne, Australia in late 1879.
In 1882 the RHS South Kensington gardens were repossessed by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, and ownership of the statue passed to them in December 1884. In 1888 the sculpture was loaned to the Royal Albert Hall where it has remained ever since.
For several decades the scuplture was hidden away in storerooms, finally being 'rediscovered' in the carpenter's workshop behind the organ at the top of the Hall, in 1983. After its discovery it was moved for display to the gallery, then the General Scott Room (currently part of Verdi Restaurant) following repairs funded by its owners the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.
The statue underwent extensive cleaning and repair from January 2004 by conservator Sarah Peek, and was returned to the Royal Albert Hall for display in the new South porch, where it still remains. |