The Return of the Gods: Neoclassical Sculpture
Tate Britain London, United Kingdom 2008
Client: Tate
This exhibition of eighteenth-century sculpture was designed for the Duveen Gallery at Tate Britain. The twenty-five works comprised figures, busts, and reliefs. The exhibition’s design aim was to forge a powerful relationship between the white marble pieces and the grand scale of the stone architecture of the Duveen.
The high-level windows were covered to exclude natural light, and the works were spot lit within the darkened interior, highlighting their surfaces with strong light and shade. The standing figures were arranged in groups, and displayed on deep horizontal plinths of precast concrete, giving each group a strong presence within the open floor. Canova's Three Graces was placed axially at the end of the long gallery, to be visible from the moment of entry to the exhibition. Light-steel cafe chairs were loosely scattered around the exhibition, for visitors to sit and sketch the works.






Credits
Location
London, United Kingdom
Date
2008
Client
Tate
Caruso St John Architects
Adam Caruso, Peter St John
Project architect
Florian Zierer
Photography
Hélène Binet
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