Truth and Falsehood

Alfred Stevens 1818 - 1875

Summary

Seated female figure classically robed sits astride a male torso emerging from the base of the sculpture. The body of the female figure representing Truth, is turned slightly to the left and her right leg is bent with her foot firmly on the chest of the torso representing Falsehood, together with her left hand which pushes the figure downwards as he braces himself with his left hand against the plinth. The male figure appears to have a serpentine tail which coils around the feet of Truth. The sculpture has a square column plinth. This was a plaster model for the Wellington Monument in St.Paul's Cathedral, London. See this version in the V&A: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O186856/truth-and-falsehood-group-singer-john-webb/