Not currently on display at the V&A

Daughter 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 son are also in the collection.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleDaughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Best
Materials and techniques
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 right.
Marks and inscriptions
'EXHIBITION of OLD MASTERS FROM HOUSES IN KENT 11th June-8th July Name of Lender. Rev W.W. Best-Dawson Title Wax Miniature. Man [sic] Artist Percy / Address for return / Park House Boxley / nr Maidstone'. (Written on label on back.)
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 son are also in the collection.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
A.91-1965

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Record createdMarch 17, 2004
Record URL
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