John Flaxman

John Flaxman (1755-1826) was an eminent British sculptor, born at York. He was brought up in London, where his father carried on business as a moulder of plaster figures. His love of drawing and modelling soon marked him out as an artist, and helped by friends he devoted himself to art. He exhibited at the age of 12, and won the silver medal of the Royal Academy at 14. For some years he supplied the Wedgwoods with designs for their famous pottery, and in 1787 he went to Rome, which for seven years became his home. In 1810 he became professor of Sculpture to the Royal Academy. Besides many fine statues of eminent men and much exquisite work in bas-reliefs, he executed a series of noble designs illustrating Homer, Dante, and Æschylus. He was a Swedenborgian by religious creed.

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