My main task at Art UK over the last couple of years has been planning our next major digitisation project, which will include cataloguing and photographing sculpture in the UK's public collections and outside in the public realm. Being immersed in thinking about sculpture all day, my eyes are now attuned to spotting them wherever I go. Many of these are snapped on my phone for our Instagram account: @artukdotorg.

On a recent visit to Gallery Oldham, I saw a painting from their collection, which is on display in their Oldham Stories gallery, depicting the unveiling of the town's First World War memorial.

This striking painting, by James Purdy, was the subject of an artwork in focus story on Art UK in March 2016 by Gallery Oldham's Sean Baggaley.

I wanted to know if the war memorial still stood in this position in the town. It does and I was able to find it a few streets away from Gallery Oldham, in front of St Mary's church.

Oldham

Oldham

The sculptures were restored in 2013 and are very striking, looking down the hill across the town.

We are currently unable to display this image due to copyright restrictions

War Memorial

Albert Toft

This made me wonder about other sculptures that might be depicted in paintings on Art UK. If there are any, do the sculptures still exist?

One sculpture which does still exist is the Boy and Dolphin on a fountain in Hyde Park, London. Sculpted in 1862 by Alexander Munro, the marble fountain stands in Hyde Park's Rose Garden.

We are currently unable to display this image due to copyright restrictions

London: Hyde Park (British Railways poster artwork) 1949

Edwin Lawson James Harris (1891–1961)

National Railway Museum

The fountain originally stood in a Victorian sunken garden that was demolished when Park Lane was widened. It was moved to Regent's Park in 1962, then was returned to Hyde Park in 1995.

Some sculptures depicted in paintings no longer exist, meaning that the painting is amongst the only visual representations of the work. A statue of George I was installed in the centre of Leicester Square, London around 1748. It was a gilded statue depicting the king on a horse. It was re-gilt in 1812.

Another painting of the square, painted in the nineteenth century, shows the statue still in position, but by the end of the century it had been neglected and vandalised.

Leicester Square, London

Leicester Square, London 19th C

British School

National Trust Collections

The statue eventually fell to pieces. George I's arms were cut off, then his legs, and afterwards his head. The horse was whitewashed and covered with large black spots, to make it look like a cow.

A stone bust of Lord Nelson can be seen in a painting of a building in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. If you look closely, you can make out Nelson's outline in the pediment of the central building.

The Old Borough Treasurers, Nelson Place

The Old Borough Treasurers, Nelson Place

Jack Clarkson (1906–1986)

Brampton Museum

If you visit Newcastle-under-Lyme, you won't be able to see the bust in its original position as it was removed from Nelson Place in 1968. Someone then had the idea to paint over it in rather bright colours. The bust is now on display at the town's Brampton Museum.

Andrew Grassie's painting of the Government Art Collection's store shows us a few sculptures in their collection.

The Government Art Collection Sculpture Store

The Government Art Collection Sculpture Store 2002

Andrew Grassie (b.1966)

Government Art Collection

The neon sign on the left wall is Things by Martin Creed.

Work No. 253: THINGS

Work No. 253: THINGS 2000

Martin Creed (b.1968)

Government Art Collection

To the left, partially obscured by a cover, is Blue Birds II by Tania Kovats.

Blue Birds II

Blue Birds II 2000

Tania Kovats (b.1966)

Government Art Collection

The work to the right, nearest the door is Plinth by Rachel Whiteread.

We are currently unable to display this image due to copyright restrictions

Untitled (Trafalgar Square Plinth) 1999

Rachel Whiteread (b.1963)

Government Art Collection

There are probably many more examples of this mixing of media on Art UK. If you find any more, please let us know.

Katey Goodwin, Art UK Head of Research & Digitisation and Project Manager for The Sculpture Project