Unknown man, possibly George Washington
Relief
1790-1800 (made)
1790-1800 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The dense grain of a hardwood allows subtle carving and a high polish. In a relief the image stands out against a background that has been cut away. The depths and angles at which the wood is carved determine the play of light and shadow in the relief. This present relief is very similar to a Wedgwood medallion showing George Washington as first president of the United States.
Leader (active 1790-1800) is described as a wax modeller, resident at New Brentford, exhibited two wax models at the Royal Academy in 1797. This sculptor may also have been related to a G. Leader of 188, Oxford Street, also a wax modeller, who exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1792 and 1804.
Leader (active 1790-1800) is described as a wax modeller, resident at New Brentford, exhibited two wax models at the Royal Academy in 1797. This sculptor may also have been related to a G. Leader of 188, Oxford Street, also a wax modeller, who exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1792 and 1804.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Unknown man, possibly George Washington (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Boxwood |
| Brief description | Relief, boxwood, unknown man, possibly George Washington, by P.H. Leader, England (London), ca. 1790-1800 |
| Physical description | Boxwood. Shown in profile facing to the left, wearing a wig with hair brushed back and two rolled up curls at the neck, the peruke tied with ribbon. His coat, which has a double collar, is open and shows a lcae ruffle. A mantle is draped round his shoulders. The portrait has been remounted and on the panel was pencilled in a recent hand 'Duncan'. The features are not entirely unlike those of this Admiral, but is seems improbable that a portrait would have been done without uniform. Probably the sitter was a private person. |
| Object history | Purchased for £7. 10s from 'Charlesworth' (J.F da C.Andrade), Avery Row, in 1939. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The dense grain of a hardwood allows subtle carving and a high polish. In a relief the image stands out against a background that has been cut away. The depths and angles at which the wood is carved determine the play of light and shadow in the relief. This present relief is very similar to a Wedgwood medallion showing George Washington as first president of the United States. Leader (active 1790-1800) is described as a wax modeller, resident at New Brentford, exhibited two wax models at the Royal Academy in 1797. This sculptor may also have been related to a G. Leader of 188, Oxford Street, also a wax modeller, who exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1792 and 1804. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.24-1939 |
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| Record created | April 21, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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