A Child (probably the artist's sister, Mary Ann) thumbnail 1
A Child (probably the artist's sister, Mary Ann) thumbnail 2
+1
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

A Child (probably the artist's sister, Mary Ann)

Relief
1772 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This wax model is made by John Flaxman in England in 1772.

The child depicted is said to be Flaxman's sister Mary Ann, who was four years old at the time. Flaxman made this when he was 18 years old.

John Flaxman (1755-1826) was an English sculptor, designer and teacher. He was the most famous English Neo-classical sculptor of the late 18th century and the early 19th. He focused on monumental sculpture and church monuments and portrait busts. A large collection of his plaster models is held in the Strang Print Room, University College, London. He also made outline illustrations of Homer, Aeschylus and Dante. Many of those in his sketchbooks (now in the V&A) were drawn from the antique while he was in Italy. Furthermore he produced models for pottery and silver supplying the pottery manufacturer Josiah Wedgwood among others. He thus can be considered as an important pioneer in the development of Industrial Design.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleA Child (probably the artist's sister, Mary Ann) (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Wax
Brief description
Wax model, A Child, by John Flaxman (1755-1826), English, dated 1772
Physical description
Full length figure, seated, of a female child holding a doll.
Dimensions
  • Including frame height: 12.5in
  • Including frame width: 11.5in
Historical context
The child depicted is said to be Flaxman's sister Mary Ann, who was four years old at the time. Flaxman made this when he was 18 years old.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This wax model is made by John Flaxman in England in 1772.

The child depicted is said to be Flaxman's sister Mary Ann, who was four years old at the time. Flaxman made this when he was 18 years old.

John Flaxman (1755-1826) was an English sculptor, designer and teacher. He was the most famous English Neo-classical sculptor of the late 18th century and the early 19th. He focused on monumental sculpture and church monuments and portrait busts. A large collection of his plaster models is held in the Strang Print Room, University College, London. He also made outline illustrations of Homer, Aeschylus and Dante. Many of those in his sketchbooks (now in the V&A) were drawn from the antique while he was in Italy. Furthermore he produced models for pottery and silver supplying the pottery manufacturer Josiah Wedgwood among others. He thus can be considered as an important pioneer in the development of Industrial Design.
Bibliographic references
  • Whinney, Margaret Dickens and Physick, John Frederick. Sculpture in Britain, 1530 to 1830. 2nd (integrated) ed. London : Penguin Books, 1988, p.338.
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1864 In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 48
  • Trusted, Marjorie, ed. The Making of Sculpture. The Materials and Techniques of European Sculpture. London: 2007, p. 30, pl. 39
  • Yarrington, A. 'Art in the Dark: Viewing and Exhibiting Sculpture at Somerset House'. In: Solkin, D. (ed.), Art on the Line: The Royal Academy Exhibitions at Somerset House 1780-1836, London, 2001, p. 174 and fig. 143
Collection
Accession number
295-1864

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

Record createdFebruary 5, 2004
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest