Not currently on display at the V&A

Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Best

Relief
ca. 1780-1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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.

Portraits of Elizabeth and Thomas Best and their daughter are also in the collection.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleSon of Thomas and Elizabeth Best
Materials and techniques
Polychrome wax
Brief description
Wax, English, by Samuel Percy (1750-1820), about 1780-1800
Physical description
Polychrome wax relief of subject in half-length, profile to the left.
Marks and inscriptions
'Percy No [illegible]' (Inscribed on the frame in the front.)
Credit line
Rupert Gunnis Bequest
Object history
Bequeathed by Rupert Gunnis, Esq.
Summary
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.

Portraits of Elizabeth and Thomas Best and their daughter are also in the collection.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
A.90-1965

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Record createdMarch 17, 2004
Record URL
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