‘The Frog Princess’ Sculpture by Gilbert Bayes at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London
In this episode, we’ll be taking a closer look at a bronze sculpture called ‘The Frog Princess’ by Gilbert Bayes which is at The Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King.
As always, I take all the photos and videos myself on location, ensuring you get an up-close and personal view of the fascinating world of art and culture.
Crafted in 1929, Bayes, a distinguished British sculptor of the early 20th century, was renowned for his ability to breathe life and emotion into his creations. He left an indelible mark on the artistic landscape with a career that traversed the Arts & Crafts era, the New Sculpture Movement, and the Art Deco period. Among Gilbert’s most renowned public creations is the Queen of Time clock, a fusion of bronze and ceramics adorning the facade of Selfridge’s department store on Oxford Street, London.
“The Frog Princess” narrates a poignant tale inspired by folklore and mythology. It depicts a young woman in the throes of metamorphosis, transitioning from a frog into a princess who dropped her golden ball into a pond and scorned the frog that found it. Originally designed for a fountain, the sculpture was intended to be accompanied by attendant frogs. This insight into the sculpture’s origin and narrative is drawn from the source “Gilbert Bayes Sculptor 1872-1953” by Louise Irving and Paul Atterbury.
This enchanting work of art is not merely an aesthetically pleasing piece; it almost beckons viewers to contemplate universal themes such as inner beauty, personal growth, and the transformative power of love.