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John Flaxman

Medal
1854 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

John Flaxman (1755-1826), designer and sculptor was the second son of John Flaxman, plaster cast maker. From an early ae he spent much of his time in his father's shop and at the age of twelve gained the first prize of the Society of Arts for a medal. He was later employed by Wedgwood to design wax models for prizes and medallions. He was elected an ARA in 1797 and a full member in 1800. In 1810 he became the first professor of sculpture at the Royal Academy.

This is one of a series of medals produced for the Art Union of London. The reverse side shows a bas-relief of Flaxman's Mercury and Pandora.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleJohn Flaxman
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Medal john flaxman/pandora & mercury after flaxman; Bronze English 19th cent h.weigall 1854 art union
Physical description
Medal, bronze. Obverse, bust of John Flaxman facing to the right. Inscription: FLAXMAN. Signed: HENRY WEIGALL sc. Reverse, depicts Mercury and Pandora flying. In the foreground the city of Athens. Signed H. WEIGALL FECIT. Inscription on the rim: ART UNION OF LONDON 1854.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 55mm
Marks and inscriptions
ART- UNION OF LONDON 1854.
Object history
Bought together with A.9 and A.10-1970 for £40 from R.G Coats, Esq, 18 Creek House, Russell Road, London, W14.
Subjects depicted
Summary
John Flaxman (1755-1826), designer and sculptor was the second son of John Flaxman, plaster cast maker. From an early ae he spent much of his time in his father's shop and at the age of twelve gained the first prize of the Society of Arts for a medal. He was later employed by Wedgwood to design wax models for prizes and medallions. He was elected an ARA in 1797 and a full member in 1800. In 1810 he became the first professor of sculpture at the Royal Academy.

This is one of a series of medals produced for the Art Union of London. The reverse side shows a bas-relief of Flaxman's Mercury and Pandora.
Bibliographic references
  • Brown, Laurence, British Historical Medal, 1837-1901- The Reign of Queen Victoria, London, 1986, no. 2530.
  • Beaulah, G.K, 'The Medal in the Art Union of London', British Numismatic Journal, vol. XXXVI, 1967, p. 182.
Collection
Accession number
A.8-1970

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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