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Lot Essay
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
The Hon. Charles James Fox (1749-1806) a member of the Whig party, became a member of parliament in 1768, gaining his seat in 1769. Throughout his career he attacked his conservative adversary, William Pitt. Ironically, he was buried in Westminister next to his political enemy.
Joseph Nollekens, R.A (1737-1823) sculpted many of the prominent personages of his time. Initially he was apprenticed to Peter Scheemakers in 1750, going on to study in Rome. He pursued the style of the Antique for Grand Tourists, during which he also received his first major commissions to sculpt portrait busts (David Garrick, Laurence Sterne and Giovanni Piranesi). His style was crisply Neo-classical, with sharp definitions, and very much in keeping with contemporary taste. He did well from his first sculpture of Charles James Fox in 1791, an example of which was sold Christie's, London 6th December 1988, lot 135. The second sculpture of Fox was commissioned for the 5th Duke of Bedford in 1801 and depicts Fox in a classical toga. This lot is based on the second portrait of Fox.
The Hon. Charles James Fox (1749-1806) a member of the Whig party, became a member of parliament in 1768, gaining his seat in 1769. Throughout his career he attacked his conservative adversary, William Pitt. Ironically, he was buried in Westminister next to his political enemy.
Joseph Nollekens, R.A (1737-1823) sculpted many of the prominent personages of his time. Initially he was apprenticed to Peter Scheemakers in 1750, going on to study in Rome. He pursued the style of the Antique for Grand Tourists, during which he also received his first major commissions to sculpt portrait busts (David Garrick, Laurence Sterne and Giovanni Piranesi). His style was crisply Neo-classical, with sharp definitions, and very much in keeping with contemporary taste. He did well from his first sculpture of Charles James Fox in 1791, an example of which was sold Christie's, London 6th December 1988, lot 135. The second sculpture of Fox was commissioned for the 5th Duke of Bedford in 1801 and depicts Fox in a classical toga. This lot is based on the second portrait of Fox.