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Medal of the Society of Arts presented to Maria Denman 'for a cupid's head in plaster', 1807
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Obverse, SM SDR21.15. ©Sir John Soane's Museum, London. Photo: Justin Piperger
Medal of the Society of Arts presented to Maria Denman 'for a cupid's head in plaster', 1807
Silver
Museum number: SDR21.15
Not on display
Curatorial note
The cupid's head for which Miss Denman won this medal in 1807 is also in the Soane collection, SM SC38). Maria Denman was the sculptor John Flaxman's sister-in-law and was a close friend of Soane who had her portrait (by Flaxman) hanging in his Dressing Room on the ground floor at 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields.
The inscription on an engraving of the medal [British Museum 1872,1012.1605] records that it was "Modelled by John Flaxman, R.A./ Executed by G. F. Pidgeon & Engraved by Anker Smith, A.R.A/ From a drawing by Maria Denman".
In 1807, the same year that Maria Denman won this example of the medal for her cupid's head, she was also awarded another silver medal for "her drawings of the new medal, the silver medal" while John Flaxman won "for the design of the Society's new medal, modelled and presented by him, the first gold medal".
The inscription on an engraving of the medal [British Museum 1872,1012.1605] records that it was "Modelled by John Flaxman, R.A./ Executed by G. F. Pidgeon & Engraved by Anker Smith, A.R.A/ From a drawing by Maria Denman".
In 1807, the same year that Maria Denman won this example of the medal for her cupid's head, she was also awarded another silver medal for "her drawings of the new medal, the silver medal" while John Flaxman won "for the design of the Society's new medal, modelled and presented by him, the first gold medal".
Literature
TAYLOR, CHARLES. “PREMIUMS OFFERED IN 1807, BY THE SOCIETY INSTITUTED AT LONDON, A.D. 1754, FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF ARTS, MANUFACTURES, AND COMMERCE.” Transactions of the Society, Instituted at London, for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, vol. 25, 1807, pp. 1–20. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41325786: pp.19-20
Associated items
SC38, associated project
Soane collections online is being continually updated. If you wish to find out more or if you have any further information about this object please contact us: worksofart@soane.org.uk