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A life mask of the sculptor Thomas Banks
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A life mask of the sculptor Thomas Banks
Plaster
Museum number: M293
On display: Basement Ante-Room
Curatorial note
There is another life mask of Banks in the Royal Academy of Arts, London (object number 03/3594), given after her death at the request of Banks' daughter Lavinia Forster in 1858. It must have been what Julius Bryant describes as a 'precious family relic'. The RA example is dated to the 1790s and this identical one must have been made at the same time.
This example must have been just as precious a memento in the collection of felllow sculptor John Flaxman, a close friend and admirer of his fellow Academician. Shortly after Banks' death in February 1805, Flaxman proposed to deliver a 'discourse' on his friend's life at the Academy, but was prevented, on the grounds that Banks was too radical in his politics and it might offend their Patron, the King. Flaxman's tribute was eventually published in 1838 after his own death and it makes the case for Banks as 'the first native-born British sculptor of greatness' (Bryant, p.10).
This example must have been just as precious a memento in the collection of felllow sculptor John Flaxman, a close friend and admirer of his fellow Academician. Shortly after Banks' death in February 1805, Flaxman proposed to deliver a 'discourse' on his friend's life at the Academy, but was prevented, on the grounds that Banks was too radical in his politics and it might offend their Patron, the King. Flaxman's tribute was eventually published in 1838 after his own death and it makes the case for Banks as 'the first native-born British sculptor of greatness' (Bryant, p.10).
Provenance
Collection of the sculptor John Flaxman; sent by his sister-in-law Maria Denman to Soane in the last six months of his life as 'A mask of Thomas Banks, RA, Sculptor, taken from his face in early life' (SM Archive: Curatorial Papers/Bailey/small tin deed box: Letter from M. Denman to the Trustees 27 February 1837.
Literature
Julius Bryant, Thomas Banks 1755-1805: Britain's first modern sculptor, exhibition catalogue Sir John Soane's Museum, 2005, frontispiece on p.4 and p.22, cat. 3. For Banks relationship with Soane see Helen Dorey, Banks and Soane, in the same catalogue p.20.
Exhibition history
Thomas Banks 1735-1805: Britain's First Modern Sculptor, Sir John Soane's Museum, London, 21 January - 9 April 2005
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