.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Of these five drawings, three show small children asleep, one shows a teenage girl standing or seated, and one shows an older girl or young woman seated at a table with three siblings behind; one of the drawings of a sleeping figure is dated May 23rd 1803.
These five drawings are among the most intimate and informal of Flaxman's many drawings of children, which range from stylised composition studies through sketches of putti or cherubs related to designs for Wedgewood jasperware or sepulchral monuments to depictions of the children of his friends. These last reveal a real sympathy for children of all ages; Flaxman, was small of stature and hunch-backed, and, although married and with his own sister and his sister-in-law forming an extended family, had no children of his own.
Flaxman had begun drawing children, often with their mothers, during his visit to Italy in 1787-94; his wife Nancy recorded her interest in such groups in Naples in her journal (see D. Bindman, ed., John Flaxman 1755-1826: Master of the Purest Line, exhibition catalogue, London, Sir John Soane's Museum and University College London, April-June 2003, pp. 52-4, examples illustrated at nos. 26-37), but even these studies are much more neo-classical and disciplined than our works.
The best-known group of studies of his friends' children is that of the Tulk family (one example of 1816 illustrated, D. Bindman, ed., John Flaxman, R.A., exhibition catalogue, London, Royal Academy, October-December 1979, p. 125, fig. 61). The other main collection of child studies of every degree of stylisation and informality is that of University College, London (see S. Colvin, The Drawings of Flaxman in the Gallery of University College, London, London, 1876, particularly pls. I-III, V-VII, IX, XI, XII, XVII, XX, XXV-XXVII, and XXIX-XXXI).
These five drawings were purchased as a group by the vendor's grandmother and have probably always been together. The children are too old to have been members of the Tulk family; Charles Augustus Tulk (1786-1849) did not get married until 1807. One possible family connection is that of Flaxman's in-laws the Denmans; one group of drawings of children belonged to J. T. Denman (fl. 1867-75); see Colvin op. cit., pp. 44-6.
These five drawings are among the most intimate and informal of Flaxman's many drawings of children, which range from stylised composition studies through sketches of putti or cherubs related to designs for Wedgewood jasperware or sepulchral monuments to depictions of the children of his friends. These last reveal a real sympathy for children of all ages; Flaxman, was small of stature and hunch-backed, and, although married and with his own sister and his sister-in-law forming an extended family, had no children of his own.
Flaxman had begun drawing children, often with their mothers, during his visit to Italy in 1787-94; his wife Nancy recorded her interest in such groups in Naples in her journal (see D. Bindman, ed., John Flaxman 1755-1826: Master of the Purest Line, exhibition catalogue, London, Sir John Soane's Museum and University College London, April-June 2003, pp. 52-4, examples illustrated at nos. 26-37), but even these studies are much more neo-classical and disciplined than our works.
The best-known group of studies of his friends' children is that of the Tulk family (one example of 1816 illustrated, D. Bindman, ed., John Flaxman, R.A., exhibition catalogue, London, Royal Academy, October-December 1979, p. 125, fig. 61). The other main collection of child studies of every degree of stylisation and informality is that of University College, London (see S. Colvin, The Drawings of Flaxman in the Gallery of University College, London, London, 1876, particularly pls. I-III, V-VII, IX, XI, XII, XVII, XX, XXV-XXVII, and XXIX-XXXI).
These five drawings were purchased as a group by the vendor's grandmother and have probably always been together. The children are too old to have been members of the Tulk family; Charles Augustus Tulk (1786-1849) did not get married until 1807. One possible family connection is that of Flaxman's in-laws the Denmans; one group of drawings of children belonged to J. T. Denman (fl. 1867-75); see Colvin op. cit., pp. 44-6.