WAX WORKS

Caravaggio’s Cupid inspires a day of sculpting in wax at The Wallace Collection

It’s surprising how much physical strength can be needed to make even the smallest piece of sculpture. I certainly found this to be so at a recent - wonderful - study event at The Wallace Collection in central London, run by sculptor Sarah Tombs @sarah.tombs.

We were making figures out of wax, using Caravaggio’s impossibly beautiful painting,  ‘Victorious Cupid’ (now sadly back in Berlin) as our starting point. Roman statuary was also displayed with the painting, helping put him into context.

With his merciless smile, eagle-sized wings and quiver of arrows, this Cupid is shocking and beguiling, like love itself.

We began with huge blocks of wax, which armoury specialist (and studio assistant for the day) Oliver thankfully cut down into more manageable chunks. Even so, softening wax into a state fit for moulding is hard work, and anyone like me with weedy wrists was soon asking for help.

Eventually though, I managed to mould a torso (above), having already decided I was going to attempt the wings too. As my piece was so small, around 14cms high, and we were there all day, I was finally able to sketch out a wax model of the whole figure, with some wire to suggest the arrows.

Apparently back in the day, sculptors of marble made wax maquettes to try out their designs, and you can see why - once cooled the finished piece does have a pleasing marble effect, especially from a forgiving distance.

Of course the downside is that it melts in warm temperatures, and having got him safely home and propped on a shelf, my poor Cupid’s right leg was soon collapsing under the weight of his body and wings. It’s not just creating the form you have to consider, but also how it’s going to be supported - hence all the drapery and pillars that surround so many big statues, hiding the essential metal supports.

Oliver also showed us the miniature wax portraits in the Collection’s sixteenth century gallery. They’re all hidden by covers, as they’re so light sensitive, but you can inspect one case at a time. These exquisite relief portraits in wax, decorated with fabric clothing and miniature jewels and ornaments, are set in frames, creating a 3D effect. Artist Antonio Abondio was a pioneer of this technique.

It was a privilege to have access to Cupid for a whole day, and to attempt something of his provocative pose and look. Sarah was an inspiring teacher.  And it’s always a great pleasure to spend time at The Wallace Collection.

Sitting target

I bought some vividly coloured tulips, and was painting them with watercolour while watching TV. Then my cat Romeo joined me, and decided to sit on top of the paper. He’s usually rather aloof, so I was pleased he was willing to sit with me at all, even though it put a stop to my picture…