John Flaxman (1755-1826)
ANTHONY’S ORATION / THE DEATH OF JULIUS CAESAR, CIRCA 1768
Pencil and watercolour wash en grisaille; signed and titled “Anthony’s Oration / Death of Jul: Caesar” along the bottom edge
Sheet 8.7 x 13.4 in — 22 x 34 cm
December 06, 2018
Estimate $3,000-$5,000
Realised: $26,400
A leading figure in British and European Neoclassicism
“This is a design for a lost plaque entitled ‘Death of Julius Caesar’ which was exhibited at the Royal Society of Arts in 1768 (No. 147) when Flaxman was thirteen years old. The figure in the right foreground is certainly a self portrait. Earlier drawings by Flaxman are recorded but this is the earliest surviving example”.
A note from the catalogue for the exhibition, “Designs for Sculpture and Metal Work”.
Exhibitions:
“John Flaxman”, 10 March – 9 April, 1976, Exhibition Presented by Christopher Powney and Gallery, London, “Designs for Sculpture and Metal Work”, Cat. No. 40, illustrated;
Royal Academy of Arts Exhibition, “John Flaxman”, 1979, Cat. No. 6, illustrated
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