The RCPE Sculpture Collection: History and Aesthetics

The RCPE possesses an impressive collection of 72 sculptures, the majority of which are in a neoclassical style and date from the nineteenth century. Most of the pieces appear to have come into the collection following the College’s move to its current premises on Queen Street in 1846. During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century there was a particular fashion for owning pieces of neoclassical sculpture. Sculptors including Antonio Canova (1757-1822) were particularly famous, whilst companies such as Brucciani & Co.