M. Flaxman & Carter / Henry the 3^d Battlements - / before parapets (Henry III reigned 1216-72; he re-built Westminster Abbey and is entombed to the north of the feretory.)

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Brown pen on thin wove paper with one fold mark (226 x 375)

Soane

The inscription M[essrs] Flaxman & Carter refers to John Flaxman (1755-1826), sculptor, and perhaps to James Carter (fl. 1794-1825), joiner, surveyor, model maker and measurer to, for example, George Dance the Younger (Soane's first employer). The entry for 5 May 1808 in Soane's office Day Book offers no clues as to the purpose of the drawing catalogued here. The following day's entry has 'About Gothic Shrine / Adams'. This was James Adams (1785-1850), articled to Soane from May 1806 to June 1809. The entry for Saturday 7 May 1808 has a note 'Sunday 8 / dined at Mr Flaxman's / at Greenwich'. Entries for 9 and 10 May each have 'About Gothic Shrine / Adams'. Flaxman rarely designed monuments in a Gothic style. One exception was a wall monument to Lady Baring in the chancel of Micheldever parish church in Hampshire, 1806, for which Dance provided the Gothic details (see J.Lever, Catalogue of the drawings of George Dance the Younger (1741-1825) …, 2003, catalogue [26]). James Carter made survey drawings of the church for Dance. It is possible that Soane asked Flaxman to execute a Gothic monument for a client. Flaxman then requested appropriate details which were rapidly sketched by Soane on Thursday 5 May, drawn out by Soane's pupil on Friday 6 May and taken by Soane when he dined with Flaxman on Sunday 8 May 1808. After discussion with Flaxman, Soane asked his pupil to make further drawings. There is an unused lecture drawing (filed with 'R.A. Lecture drawings to illustrate various Gothic buildings', SM 27/5/5), inscribed 'Elevation of a Gothic Tomb' and dated May 14^th 1808 (nothing in office Day Book entry of that date) that shows an elevation of a tomb-chest under a gabled, trefoil-arched canopy over a recumbent female figure flanked by angels. This may be the finished design that was not executed and was then relegated for use as a lecture drawing (but not used).

D.Irwin, John Flaxman 1755-1826, 1979, p.131, figs 172-3; D.Irwin, John Flaxman, catalogue of an exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1979, cat.134

Drawing

Digitisation of the Drawings Collection has been made possible through the generosity of the Leon Levy Foundation

If you have any further information about this object, please contact us: drawings@soane.org.uk