About this artwork

Munro translated the naturalistic detail and engaging narrative of Pre-Raphaelite paintings into sculpture. Here the young boy, William of Egremont, and his long-haired greyhound, are poised on the brink of a chasm, about to plunge to their deaths in the River Wharfe. Munro was inspired by Wordsworth's poem The Force of Prayer which recounts the legend of the founding of Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire in memory of William, 'Young Romilly'. Herbert Ingram, founder of the Illustrated London News, allowed one of his young sons to pose as William, so Munro carved the Ingram coat of arms on Romilly's tunic.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    Alexander Munro (1825 - 1871) Scottish
  • title:
    Young Romilly
  • date created:
    About 1863
  • materials:
    Marble
  • measurements:
    97.00 cm (figure height); 93.00 x 58.20 x 76.30 cm (base size)
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Purchased 1993
  • accession number:
    NG 2571
  • gallery:
  • subject:
  • artwork photographed by:
    Antonia Reeve
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Alexander Munro

Alexander Munro