Dr Hugh Blair (1718-1800) thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Dr Hugh Blair (1718-1800)

Relief
1791 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This relief representing Dr. Hugh Blair (b. 1718-d. 1762), the first professor of Belles Lettres at Edinburgh, was made by James Tassie in Scotland in 1791. This relief and A. 66-1930, A. 67-1930, also made by Tassie, are of a type of wax portrait cast in a mould and then worked over slightly by hand to give force and life to the modelling.

James Tassie (b. 1735-d. 1799) was an inventor and maker of pastes who was born in Glasgow but settled in London in 1766.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDr Hugh Blair (1718-1800)
Materials and techniques
Wax
Brief description
Relief, wax, Scottish, by James Tassie (1755-1799), dated 1791
Physical description
Relief in brownish pink wax; bust in profile to the left, the doctor is shown wearing a close curled wig, and gown with frog and bands.
Dimensions
  • Height: 7.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
'HUGH BLAIR D.D. / 1791' and in cursive 'Tassie F.' (Signed on the truncation of th arm.)
Credit line
Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh
Subject depicted
Summary
This relief representing Dr. Hugh Blair (b. 1718-d. 1762), the first professor of Belles Lettres at Edinburgh, was made by James Tassie in Scotland in 1791. This relief and A. 66-1930, A. 67-1930, also made by Tassie, are of a type of wax portrait cast in a mould and then worked over slightly by hand to give force and life to the modelling.

James Tassie (b. 1735-d. 1799) was an inventor and maker of pastes who was born in Glasgow but settled in London in 1766.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Forrer, Louis. Biographical Dictionary of Medallists. London: Spink & Son Ltd., 1902-30. Vol. VI. under Tassie.
  • Gray, J. M. James and William Tassie. 1894.
Collection
Accession number
A.65-1930

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Record createdMarch 11, 2004
Record URL
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