Perseus

Halnon studied at the Goldsmith’s Institute from the early age of 11 and went on to become modelling master of the same institution. In 1906 he joined the Royal British Society of Sculptors, thanks to the sponsorship of Alfred Drury, his second nomination coming from Francis Derwent-Wood. An adherent of the New Sculpture movement, he was particularly influenced by the work of Frederic, Lord Leighton. He exhibited a portrait plaque of Leighton in the 1906 Royal Academy. In 1923 Halnon became an Associate member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors, and a Fellow in 1938. A bronze bust of a Bacchante by Halnon is in the Royal Collection. The present work is clearly influenced by Sir Alfred Gilbert’s 1882 Perseus Arming and Pomeroy’s 1898 Perseus. Halnon exhibited a bronze statuette of Perseus at the Royal Academy in 1905.