Heavenly Welcome: A Model for a Memorial to Mary Ellen Peel and her son Archibald

The relief is a model for a monument erected to in St GilesÂ’s Church, Wrexham to Mrs Mary Ellen Peel and her deceased son Archibald. Woolner was a friend of Mary Ellen's husband Archibald Peel, who was a nephew of Sir Robert Peel. Woolner was one of the principal British sculptors of the 1860s and 1870s and previously a founder member of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood. He attempted to revitalize the old-fashioned neo-classical style and did so successfully by handling it in a more realistic manner. This sculpture will add to the distinguished collection of 19th century sculpture at the National Museum Wales and is intended to be shown in their newly completed Victorian Gallery.