Drawing
1779
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A drawing of the right hand side of a gold and enamel Freedom box. Profile. Shown full size 63 x 88 mm.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pencil, pen and ink, grey wash and watercolour on a laid paper, watermarked with a Britannia within a border [cut]. |
| Brief description | A design for the right hand side of a gold and enamel Freedom box by John Bacon (1740-1799), 1779 |
| Physical description | A drawing of the right hand side of a gold and enamel Freedom box. Profile. Shown full size 63 x 88 mm. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Inscribed in in ink "D." |
| Gallery label | |
| Object history | A design for the right hand side of a gold and enamel Freedom box showing in a central panel Mercury with a money bag crossing the sea protected by a British Triton. Above two cornucopias below, at the sides two ships and below trade goods including elephants’ tusks. Above a border of shells and anchors.
This is one of a group of six drawings for the faces of a box in gold, enamel and heart of oak. Made by the sculptor John Bacon in response to an open competition set by the City of London. The box was made for presentation to Admiral Augustus Keppel. In March 1779 the appointed committee saw these drawings but accepted only the sides and bottom, deciding to combine them with a design for the top submitted by William Charron, an enameller. The box (now in the Museum of London) was presented at the end of the year, accompanied by an illustrated printed book.
Bequethed by Miss Julia Sharpe in 1946 per Professor J. S. Pearson, University College London. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic reference | Victoria & Albert Museum Department of Engraving Illustration and Design & Department of Paintings, Accessions 1946. London: Published under the Authority of the Ministry of Education, 1949.
T. Murdoch, M. Snodin, ‘Admiral Keppel’s ‘freedom box’ from the City of London’, Burlington Magazine, June 1993, pp. 403-410, fig.37. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.251-1946 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
