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  • image M1484
Statuette of Michelangelo. SM M1484. ©Sir John Soane's Museum, London. Photo: Lewis Bush

John Flaxman RA (1755 - 1826), sculptor

Statuette of Michelangelo

Plaster

Museum number: M1484

On display: Dome Area
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house. For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit

Curatorial note

Flaxman made statuettes of Michelangelo and Raphael (see M1485) for Sir Thomas Lawrence and exhibited a pair of plaster models for them, perhaps this pair, at the Royal Academy in 1826. The figures were placed in the Dome area in this position to associate Flaxman with his contemporary Sir Francis Chantrey, who sculpted the bust of Soane just above (M931). A subtle reference to Lawrence is included in the arrangement, with a bust of him (M695) placed high up behind the bust of Soane. The arrangement brings together Michelangelo, Raphael, Flaxman, Chantrey, Soane and Lawrence to symbolise the ‘union of the arts’ which Soane wanted his Museum to represent.


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