The V&A has raised the £5 million needed to complete the purchase of four bronze angels originally designed for the tomb of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, chief advisor to King Henry VIII and once one of the most powerful men in England.
The campaign was very much aided by a grant of £2 million from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund most generously contributed £500,000, and the Friends of the V&A gave £200,000; a further substantial gift was made in memory of Melvin R. Seiden, and many other private individuals and trusts, most notably the Ruddock Foundation for the Arts, also donated.
Over £87,000 was raised from a national public appeal. Around £33,000 of that came through on-site donations and selling £1 ‘Save the Wolsey Angels’ badges in the V&A Shop.
Martin Roth, V&A Director, said: ‘The Wolsey Angels are a vital part of our national history and artistic heritage. We are very grateful to everyone who contributed to our fundraising appeal to ensure these outstanding sculptures, which were thought to be lost, are reunited and preserved at the V&A for future generations.’
Now that the fundraising is complete the Angels are now part of our permanent collection. In due course they will undergo conservation work to harmonise their appearances which shall return all four to their original greenish hue.
The Angels and are currently on display in the V&A’s Medieval and Renaissance Galleries, Room 50.
Thank you to everyone who supported our campaign and helped save the Wolsey Angels.
