Unknown Man
Relief
19th century (made)
19th century (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.
Low relief polychrome wax portraits were produced using the same basic principles as monochrome ones: modelling in soft wax, taking a plaster mould and then casting. However when the initial mould was finished it was cut into separate sections and each part cast in the prevailing colour. The pieces were then joined together on their backing using molten wax and the surface finishing completed in a similar way. On the surface additional sheets of sculpted wax and chasing has been used to add further detail.
The sitter has not been identified however the relief is thought to be the work of David Morrison who was appointed 'miniature modeller' to the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Augusta in 1826.
Low relief polychrome wax portraits were produced using the same basic principles as monochrome ones: modelling in soft wax, taking a plaster mould and then casting. However when the initial mould was finished it was cut into separate sections and each part cast in the prevailing colour. The pieces were then joined together on their backing using molten wax and the surface finishing completed in a similar way. On the surface additional sheets of sculpted wax and chasing has been used to add further detail.
The sitter has not been identified however the relief is thought to be the work of David Morrison who was appointed 'miniature modeller' to the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Augusta in 1826.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Title | Unknown Man |
Materials and techniques | Wax |
Brief description | Wax, English, possibly by David Morrison (active between 1821-1850), 19th century |
Physical description | Wax relief in oval frame. Profile to the right. |
Credit line | Rupert Gunnis Bequest |
Object history | Rupert Gunnis Bequest. |
Historical context | Although originally recorded as an image of Dr Wollaston this suggestion has been dismissed. |
Production | Sitter previously identified as Dr Wollaston. |
Subject depicted | |
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. Low relief polychrome wax portraits were produced using the same basic principles as monochrome ones: modelling in soft wax, taking a plaster mould and then casting. However when the initial mould was finished it was cut into separate sections and each part cast in the prevailing colour. The pieces were then joined together on their backing using molten wax and the surface finishing completed in a similar way. On the surface additional sheets of sculpted wax and chasing has been used to add further detail. The sitter has not been identified however the relief is thought to be the work of David Morrison who was appointed 'miniature modeller' to the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Augusta in 1826. |
Bibliographic reference | Pyke, E. A Biographical Dictionary of Wax Modellers Oxford, Clarendon Street, 1973, p. 94. |
Collection | |
Accession number | A.107-1965 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | March 17, 2004 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest