Not currently on display at the V&A

James Rennell

Relief
18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

James Rennell was an English geographer, historian and a pioneer of Oceanography.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, low relief portraits in wax became popular in Britain and they were often exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Society of Artists and elsewhere. Waxes were used in a similar way to prints and medals, in order to disseminate the image of the sitter, or, like miniature paintings or silhouettes as portable mementoes.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleJames Rennell
Materials and techniques
Wax
Brief description
Wax, relief, English, 18th century
Physical description
Wax relief of an old man. Profile to the left.
Credit line
Rupert Gunnis Bequest
Object history
Bequeathed by Rupert Gunnis, Esq.
Subject depicted
Summary
James Rennell was an English geographer, historian and a pioneer of Oceanography.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, low relief portraits in wax became popular in Britain and they were often exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Society of Artists and elsewhere. Waxes were used in a similar way to prints and medals, in order to disseminate the image of the sitter, or, like miniature paintings or silhouettes as portable mementoes.
Collection
Accession number
A.86-1965

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 Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis.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 createdMarch 17, 2004
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest