Regency Portraits Catalogue
John Flaxman (1755-1826), Sculptor
- Gallery portraits
- All known portraits
- Biography and References
A short list of portraits of Flaxman is in W. G. Constable, John Flaxman, 1927, pp 116-18.
c.1770-1
Wax medallion self-portrait, head and shoulders to left aged about 15, in Birmingham Art Gallery.
c.1770
Pen and ink drawing by Flaxman in British Museum, 'head in full face of a boy much resembling the artist himself in youth' (Laurence Binyon, Catalogue of Drawings by British Artists … in the British Museum, 158).
Wax medallion self-portrait 'when a youth beautifully finished', upright oval profile to right with long hair, on red velvet, Flaxman sale at Christie's 26 April 1876 (78) bought Rathbone.
c.1775
Self-portrait in red chalk lent by George Smith to SKM 1865 (1389) and in Wellesley sale at Sotheby's 28 June 1920 (333), head and shoulders with right hand separately on a book. This is possibly a drawing for the circular high relief plaster medallion in the Royal Scottish Academy.
1778
Crayon drawing by Ozias Humphry in Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, said to have been drawn in Rome 1778. A version offered to the NPG in 1955 was inscribed on the back in the artist's hand: Flaxman Junr Sculptor O.H. delt 1778 Londini. A miniature by Humphry, unrelated to the drawing, at Madresfield Court (Earl Beauchamp) is reproduced in colour in Country Life Annual, 1952, p 84.
1779
Self-portrait in terracotta, high relief circular medallion in V&A Museum, head and shoulders facing incised: + HANC SUI IPSIUS EFFIGIEM FECIT JOANNES FLAXMAN IUNIOR ARTIFEX STATUARIUM ET COELATOR ALUMNUS EX ACADEMIA REGALE ANNO AETATIS SUAE XXIV/A D 1779. (David Bindman (ed.), John Flaxman, RA Catalogue, 1979, 4a).
Self-portrait, ink drawing in University College, London, half-length seated hand on skull, probably lot 236a in Denman sale Christie's 11 April 1862 - 'right hand on scroll' (David Bindman (ed.), John Flaxman, RA Catalogue, 1979, 3).
Self-portrait, ink drawing in the Earl's High School, Halesowen, Worcestershire, half-length with right hand on hip, etched by M. de Clauson and published as frontispiece to Flaxman's Anatomical Studies, 1833 (David Bindman (ed.), John Flaxman, RA Catalogue, 1979, 2).
1780
Self-portrait miniature signed and dated 1780 and given by Flaxman to Anne Denman before their marriage, at Christie's Denman sale 26 April 1876 (209) bought Agnew.
1781
Wax by William Flaxman (elder brother) exhibited RA 1781 (275).
1782
Self-portrait drawing signed and dated: J Flaxman 1782 exhibited RA Winter 1881 (153) lent by Professor Sydney Colvin.
c.1790-5
Self-portrait plaster medallion (NPG 2487).
1792
Oil by Guy Head (NPG 877).
1795-1800
Bust by Thomas Hayley (Rupert Gunnis, Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851, p 193).
1795
Oils by Romney (see NPG 101).
1796
Drawing by Dance in RA library, profile to left signed and dated: Geo Dance Nov 12th 1796 and engraved in reverse by W. Daniell 1809.
c.1797
Oil by Henry Howard (NPG 674).
c.1798
Miniature by Thomas Arrowsmith exhibited RA 1798 (765).
1810
Drawing by Thomas Cooley (NPG 4913b).
1815
Pencil drawing by W. H. Lizars in Scottish NPG (144).
c.1820
Indian ink drawing by W. Y. Ottley in British Museum, whole-length modelling by lamplight (Laurence Binyon, Catalogue of Drawings by British Artists … in the British Museum, 149).
Grey wash drawing by Maria Denman (sister-in-law) in Sir Geoffrey Keynes collection, exhibited Heim Gallery 1976 (1).
Oil by Jackson at Althorp (Lord Spencer), exhibited RA 1827 (286) but probably painted considerably earlier; mezzotint by C. Turner, 1 May 1827 'From the original Picture in the Collection of the Hon. George Agar Ellis …' (Alfred Whitman, Charles Turner, 1907, 199). Jackson himself claimed that this 'portrait has obtained me more celebrity than any one I ever sent' (letter to Archdeacon Wrangham, 1 June 1827, cit. H. C. Morgan, Life and Works of John Jackson RA, unpublished thesis for Leeds University 1956, p 153). It was described by The Morning Post as 'the best portrait in the Exhibition after the President's' and by Lawrence himself at the Academy dinner as 'a picture of which Van Dyck might have been proud to own himself the author' (H. C. Morgan, Life and Works of John Jackson RA, unpublished thesis for Leeds University, 1956, p 165).
A copy was in the Lansdowne collection; another copy not by Jackson is in the New York City Art Gallery, and another by Healy at Versailles; an enamel copy by Essex was exhibited SBA 1829 (578) and another by Bone at RA 1829 (489) now at Port Sunlight; Bone's squared drawing for this is in the NPG library (Henry Bone's annotated pencil drawings for miniatures and enamels, I, p 95). A drawing of the head by Lane, presumably for a lithograph, was finished 5 February 1829 for John Murray and another 10 June 1829 was given to Jackson himself (R. J. Lane’s accounts and letters, MSS 1, 18 & 20).
1821-3
Marble bust by Baily in RA presented as his diploma work and incised E.H. BAILY, R.A. Sculpt London, exhibited RA 1823 (1096); an intaglio by Clint from Baily's bust was exhibited RA 1823 (1008) and medallic portraits after Baily's bust by A. J. Stothard and B. Wyon were exhibited RA 1827 (1003 and 990) (Laurence Brown, British Historical Medals, 1980, 1259).
c.1823
Stipple engraving by Thomson after Derby was published in The European Magazine, June 1823; an oil by Derby was lent to the Exhibition of the Royal House of Guelph, New Gallery, 1891 (282) by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts and sold Christie's May 1922 (262); a watercolour drawing by Derby was lent by John Murray to SKM 1865 (2714).
1826
Drawing by James Atkinson (NPG 823).
Intaglio by C. H. Weigall with impressions, exhibited RA 1826 (933).
Undated
Oil by Collier with enamel copy by Essex exhibited RA 1828 (640).
Watercolour drawing by J. T. Smith in British Museum, half-length seated in profile to right (Laurence Binyon, Catalogue of Drawings by British Artists … in the British Museum).
Small oil attributed to Opie in City Art Gallery, York, half-length in a red coat, right hand to cheek, dated ?1797.
Chalk self-portrait, c.1800, exhibited RA Winter 1879 (342) and sold Sotheby's 15 December 1948 (3).
Posthumous
1828
Bronze medallion by David d'Angers in Musée des Beaux Arts, Angers.
1830
Marble bust by Thomas Denman (brother-in-law) exhibited RA 1830 (1231) and SBA 1831 (880) and sold as 'a fine marble bust …' in Christie's Denman sale 9 April 1862 (126) bought Eastwood.
Small bronze bust by S. Joseph in City Art Gallery, York.
c.1830
Drawing by Brockedon (NPG 2515(32) and Richard Ormond, National Portrait Gallery: Early Victorian Portraits, 1973, p 554).
1841-3
Statue by Watson and Nelson (1843) in University College; model by Watson (1841) in City Art Gallery, Carlisle.
1846
Model for a medal by W. Wilson commissioned by the Art Union and exhibited RA 1846 (1372).
1849
Statue by E. H. Baily in University College, exhibited RA 1849 (1208).
c.1850
Marble statue by Weekes in Tate Gallery (1769).
1854
Bronze medal by Henry Weigall published by the Art Union 1854, incised recto: FLAXMAN/Henry Weigall Sc. and verso Mercury bearing Diana over Athens incised: H. Weigall/fecit (example in NPG Reserve Collection).
This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Walker, Regency Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, 1985, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.
c.1770-1
Wax medallion self-portrait, head and shoulders to left aged about 15, in Birmingham Art Gallery.
c.1770
Pen and ink drawing by Flaxman in British Museum, 'head in full face of a boy much resembling the artist himself in youth' (Laurence Binyon, Catalogue of Drawings by British Artists … in the British Museum, 158).
Wax medallion self-portrait 'when a youth beautifully finished', upright oval profile to right with long hair, on red velvet, Flaxman sale at Christie's 26 April 1876 (78) bought Rathbone.
c.1775
Self-portrait in red chalk lent by George Smith to SKM 1865 (1389) and in Wellesley sale at Sotheby's 28 June 1920 (333), head and shoulders with right hand separately on a book. This is possibly a drawing for the circular high relief plaster medallion in the Royal Scottish Academy.
1778
Crayon drawing by Ozias Humphry in Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, said to have been drawn in Rome 1778. A version offered to the NPG in 1955 was inscribed on the back in the artist's hand: Flaxman Junr Sculptor O.H. delt 1778 Londini. A miniature by Humphry, unrelated to the drawing, at Madresfield Court (Earl Beauchamp) is reproduced in colour in Country Life Annual, 1952, p 84.
1779
Self-portrait in terracotta, high relief circular medallion in V&A Museum, head and shoulders facing incised: + HANC SUI IPSIUS EFFIGIEM FECIT JOANNES FLAXMAN IUNIOR ARTIFEX STATUARIUM ET COELATOR ALUMNUS EX ACADEMIA REGALE ANNO AETATIS SUAE XXIV/A D 1779. (David Bindman (ed.), John Flaxman, RA Catalogue, 1979, 4a).
Self-portrait, ink drawing in University College, London, half-length seated hand on skull, probably lot 236a in Denman sale Christie's 11 April 1862 - 'right hand on scroll' (David Bindman (ed.), John Flaxman, RA Catalogue, 1979, 3).
Self-portrait, ink drawing in the Earl's High School, Halesowen, Worcestershire, half-length with right hand on hip, etched by M. de Clauson and published as frontispiece to Flaxman's Anatomical Studies, 1833 (David Bindman (ed.), John Flaxman, RA Catalogue, 1979, 2).
1780
Self-portrait miniature signed and dated 1780 and given by Flaxman to Anne Denman before their marriage, at Christie's Denman sale 26 April 1876 (209) bought Agnew.
1781
Wax by William Flaxman (elder brother) exhibited RA 1781 (275).
1782
Self-portrait drawing signed and dated: J Flaxman 1782 exhibited RA Winter 1881 (153) lent by Professor Sydney Colvin.
c.1790-5
Self-portrait plaster medallion (NPG 2487).
1792
Oil by Guy Head (NPG 877).
1795-1800
Bust by Thomas Hayley (Rupert Gunnis, Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851, p 193).
1795
Oils by Romney (see NPG 101).
1796
Drawing by Dance in RA library, profile to left signed and dated: Geo Dance Nov 12th 1796 and engraved in reverse by W. Daniell 1809.
c.1797
Oil by Henry Howard (NPG 674).
c.1798
Miniature by Thomas Arrowsmith exhibited RA 1798 (765).
1810
Drawing by Thomas Cooley (NPG 4913b).
1815
Pencil drawing by W. H. Lizars in Scottish NPG (144).
c.1820
Indian ink drawing by W. Y. Ottley in British Museum, whole-length modelling by lamplight (Laurence Binyon, Catalogue of Drawings by British Artists … in the British Museum, 149).
Grey wash drawing by Maria Denman (sister-in-law) in Sir Geoffrey Keynes collection, exhibited Heim Gallery 1976 (1).
Oil by Jackson at Althorp (Lord Spencer), exhibited RA 1827 (286) but probably painted considerably earlier; mezzotint by C. Turner, 1 May 1827 'From the original Picture in the Collection of the Hon. George Agar Ellis …' (Alfred Whitman, Charles Turner, 1907, 199). Jackson himself claimed that this 'portrait has obtained me more celebrity than any one I ever sent' (letter to Archdeacon Wrangham, 1 June 1827, cit. H. C. Morgan, Life and Works of John Jackson RA, unpublished thesis for Leeds University 1956, p 153). It was described by The Morning Post as 'the best portrait in the Exhibition after the President's' and by Lawrence himself at the Academy dinner as 'a picture of which Van Dyck might have been proud to own himself the author' (H. C. Morgan, Life and Works of John Jackson RA, unpublished thesis for Leeds University, 1956, p 165).
A copy was in the Lansdowne collection; another copy not by Jackson is in the New York City Art Gallery, and another by Healy at Versailles; an enamel copy by Essex was exhibited SBA 1829 (578) and another by Bone at RA 1829 (489) now at Port Sunlight; Bone's squared drawing for this is in the NPG library (Henry Bone's annotated pencil drawings for miniatures and enamels, I, p 95). A drawing of the head by Lane, presumably for a lithograph, was finished 5 February 1829 for John Murray and another 10 June 1829 was given to Jackson himself (R. J. Lane’s accounts and letters, MSS 1, 18 & 20).
1821-3
Marble bust by Baily in RA presented as his diploma work and incised E.H. BAILY, R.A. Sculpt London, exhibited RA 1823 (1096); an intaglio by Clint from Baily's bust was exhibited RA 1823 (1008) and medallic portraits after Baily's bust by A. J. Stothard and B. Wyon were exhibited RA 1827 (1003 and 990) (Laurence Brown, British Historical Medals, 1980, 1259).
c.1823
Stipple engraving by Thomson after Derby was published in The European Magazine, June 1823; an oil by Derby was lent to the Exhibition of the Royal House of Guelph, New Gallery, 1891 (282) by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts and sold Christie's May 1922 (262); a watercolour drawing by Derby was lent by John Murray to SKM 1865 (2714).
1826
Drawing by James Atkinson (NPG 823).
Intaglio by C. H. Weigall with impressions, exhibited RA 1826 (933).
Undated
Oil by Collier with enamel copy by Essex exhibited RA 1828 (640).
Watercolour drawing by J. T. Smith in British Museum, half-length seated in profile to right (Laurence Binyon, Catalogue of Drawings by British Artists … in the British Museum).
Small oil attributed to Opie in City Art Gallery, York, half-length in a red coat, right hand to cheek, dated ?1797.
Chalk self-portrait, c.1800, exhibited RA Winter 1879 (342) and sold Sotheby's 15 December 1948 (3).
Posthumous
1828
Bronze medallion by David d'Angers in Musée des Beaux Arts, Angers.
1830
Marble bust by Thomas Denman (brother-in-law) exhibited RA 1830 (1231) and SBA 1831 (880) and sold as 'a fine marble bust …' in Christie's Denman sale 9 April 1862 (126) bought Eastwood.
Small bronze bust by S. Joseph in City Art Gallery, York.
c.1830
Drawing by Brockedon (NPG 2515(32) and Richard Ormond, National Portrait Gallery: Early Victorian Portraits, 1973, p 554).
1841-3
Statue by Watson and Nelson (1843) in University College; model by Watson (1841) in City Art Gallery, Carlisle.
1846
Model for a medal by W. Wilson commissioned by the Art Union and exhibited RA 1846 (1372).
1849
Statue by E. H. Baily in University College, exhibited RA 1849 (1208).
c.1850
Marble statue by Weekes in Tate Gallery (1769).
1854
Bronze medal by Henry Weigall published by the Art Union 1854, incised recto: FLAXMAN/Henry Weigall Sc. and verso Mercury bearing Diana over Athens incised: H. Weigall/fecit (example in NPG Reserve Collection).
This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Walker, Regency Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, 1985, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.