The Discovery of Achilles
Plaque
ca. 1788 (made)
ca. 1788 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
The relief was probably intended for incorporation into a chimney-piece. According to Josiah Wedgwood, who manufactured it, such reliefs were used 'in the composition of a great variety of chimneypieces'.
Ownership & Use
Wedgwood claimed that his panels of this type could 'be seen in the houses of many of the first nobility and gentry in the kingdom.' He had high hopes that his Jasper reliefs would be taken up by Robert Adam and other leading architects of the day. However, he complained to his partner that he had failed to 'prevail upon the architects to be godfathers to our child ...'
Design & Designing
Around 1788 Wedgwood set up a modelling studio in Rome to supply him with casts and copies of antique reliefs for copying in Jasper. This was superintended by Henry Webber, previously the head of the ornamental department at Wedgwood's factory. Webber produced little in Italy, but employed a number of Italian artists to model reliefs in wax. Among them was Camillo Pacetti (1758-1826), who was described as 'a proud imperious fellow'. Pacetti modelled this piece, copying it from a relief carved in marble on a Roman sarcophagus of the 3rd century AD.
The relief was probably intended for incorporation into a chimney-piece. According to Josiah Wedgwood, who manufactured it, such reliefs were used 'in the composition of a great variety of chimneypieces'.
Ownership & Use
Wedgwood claimed that his panels of this type could 'be seen in the houses of many of the first nobility and gentry in the kingdom.' He had high hopes that his Jasper reliefs would be taken up by Robert Adam and other leading architects of the day. However, he complained to his partner that he had failed to 'prevail upon the architects to be godfathers to our child ...'
Design & Designing
Around 1788 Wedgwood set up a modelling studio in Rome to supply him with casts and copies of antique reliefs for copying in Jasper. This was superintended by Henry Webber, previously the head of the ornamental department at Wedgwood's factory. Webber produced little in Italy, but employed a number of Italian artists to model reliefs in wax. Among them was Camillo Pacetti (1758-1826), who was described as 'a proud imperious fellow'. Pacetti modelled this piece, copying it from a relief carved in marble on a Roman sarcophagus of the 3rd century AD.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Discovery of Achilles (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Jasper with green dip and applied reliefs |
| Brief description | Chimney tablet with a relief depicting Menelaus and Diomed discovering Achilles among the daughters of Lycomedes; probably modelled by Camillo Pacetti, made at Josiah Wedgwood's factory, Etruria, Staffordshire, ca. 1788 |
| Physical description | Chimney tablet with a relief depicting Menelaus and Diomed discovering Achilles among the daughters of Lycomedes |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street |
| Object history | Made at Josiah Wedgwood's factory, Etruria, Staffordshire; probably modelled by Camillo Pacetti (probably born in Rome, 1758, died in Milan, Italy 1826). Jermyn Street Collection. |
| Summary | Object Type The relief was probably intended for incorporation into a chimney-piece. According to Josiah Wedgwood, who manufactured it, such reliefs were used 'in the composition of a great variety of chimneypieces'. Ownership & Use Wedgwood claimed that his panels of this type could 'be seen in the houses of many of the first nobility and gentry in the kingdom.' He had high hopes that his Jasper reliefs would be taken up by Robert Adam and other leading architects of the day. However, he complained to his partner that he had failed to 'prevail upon the architects to be godfathers to our child ...' Design & Designing Around 1788 Wedgwood set up a modelling studio in Rome to supply him with casts and copies of antique reliefs for copying in Jasper. This was superintended by Henry Webber, previously the head of the ornamental department at Wedgwood's factory. Webber produced little in Italy, but employed a number of Italian artists to model reliefs in wax. Among them was Camillo Pacetti (1758-1826), who was described as 'a proud imperious fellow'. Pacetti modelled this piece, copying it from a relief carved in marble on a Roman sarcophagus of the 3rd century AD. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 4938-1901 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
