Lot Essay
Joseph Gott trained in London under John Flaxman between 1798 and 1802 and from 1805 at the Royal Academy Schools. In 1822 he permanently moved to Rome, where he and his compatriot John Gibson, achieved great notoriety. He continued to make frequent visits to England and won commissions from both the aristocracy and the industrial magnates of the north.
Although Gott's sculpture contains strong classicising elements, such as the form of the drapery and stylised faces seen here, he rarely adopted the austere neo-classical style that was practised by Gibson. His sculpture instead displayed an air of simplicity that was both playful and romantic.
Although Gott's sculpture contains strong classicising elements, such as the form of the drapery and stylised faces seen here, he rarely adopted the austere neo-classical style that was practised by Gibson. His sculpture instead displayed an air of simplicity that was both playful and romantic.