Biography of John Flaxman 1755-1826

 Church of St Edmund Holme Pierrepoint Wardour Street Soho All Saints Church, Thirkleby St Andrew's Church, Wimpole Christchurch Priory St Michael and All Angels Church, Ledbury St Mary's Church, Kirkby Fleetham St Mary's Church, Old Basing Church of St Peter Kirkthorpe St Michael and Our Lady's Church, Wragby Church of St Leonard, Wortley St Mary The Virgin Church, Rufford

John Flaxman 1755-1826 is in Sculptors.

On 06 Jul 1755 John Flaxman was born to John Flaxman (age 29) in York [Map]

After 22 Sep 1773. Church of St Edmund Holme Pierrepoint [Map]. Monument to Evelyn Pierrepont 2nd Duke Kingston upon Hull (deceased). Probably sculpted by John Flaxman (age 18).

In 1782 John Flaxman (age 26) and Anne Denman (age 22) were married. They lived at Wardour Street Soho [Map].

In 1787 John Flaxman (age 31) and [his wife] Anne Denman (age 27) moved to Rome, Italy where they lived until 1794 when they re-settled at 7 Buckingham Street Fitzroy Square.

In Mar 1791 Henry Howard (age 22) travelled to Rome, Italy where he met and studied scuplture with John Flaxman (age 35).

Around 1797. Henry Howard (age 27). Portrait of John Flaxman (age 41).

Between 1798 and 1802 Joseph Gott (age 16) was apprenticed to John Flaxman (age 42).

Between 1798 and 1802 Joseph Gott (age 16) apprenticed to John Flaxman (age 42).

Before 1799 Joseph Theakston (age 27) was a pupil of John "The Elder" Bacon (age 58). He also studied under John Flaxman (age 43).

In 1803 [his father] John Flaxman (age 77) died.

After 1804. All Saints Church, Thirkleby [Map]. Memorial to four of the children of Thomas Frankland 6th Baronet (age 53) and Dorothy Smelt Lady Thirkleby (age 54) who died young. Sculpted by John Flaxman (age 48).

In 1810 [his sister] Mary Ann Flaxman (age 42) moved into the home of her brother John Flaxman (age 54) at 7 Buckingham Street Fitzroy Square.

On 10 Jan 1811 William Saltren died. Church of St Edmund Holme Pierrepoint [Map]. Sculpted by John Flaxman (age 55).

On 07 Feb 1820 [his wife] Anne Denman (age 60) died. Her sister [his sister-in-law] Maria Denman Illustrator (age 44) continued to live with her husband John Flaxman (age 64) as did her husband John Floaxman's (age 64) sister [his sister] Mary Ann Flaxman (age 52).

On 30 Dec 1820 Agneta Johnson (age 80) died. Buried at St Andrew's Church, Wimpole [Map].

Inscription tablet flanked by pilasters with figures of her husband in robes of state and of two sons, and with medallion portrait at the head, all in white marble, signed 'J. FLAXMAN (age 65), R.A. Sculptor'

Agneta Johnson: On 11 Nov 1740 she was born to Henry Johnson of Berkhamstead in Hertfordshire. On 30 Dec 1762 Charles Yorke and she were married. He the son of Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke and Margaret Cocks Countess Hardwicke.

Before 1826 . John Jackson (age 47). Portrait of John Flaxman (age 70).

Before 07 Dec 1826. Henry Howard (age 57). Portrait of John Flaxman (age 71).

On 07 Dec 1826 John Flaxman (age 71) died. His sister-in-law [his former wife] Anne Denman and half-sister [his sister] Mary Ann Flaxman (age 58) were co-executors of his estate.

In 1827 Richard Westmacott (age 51) was appointed Royal Academy professor of sculpture succeeding John Flaxman.

Cansick's Monumental Inscriptions Volume 2 St Giles' Cemetery, Kings Road. St Giles' Cemetery, King's RoadHere rest the mortal remains of [his former wife] Ann Flaxman, The virtuous and beloved wife of John Flaxman, R.A.P.S., Whose soul returned to the Almighty Creator and Blessed Redeemer On the 7th of February, In the year of Our Lord, 1820, And the 60th year of her age. Under the same stone Is interred her husband, John Flaxman, R.A.P.S.1, Whose mortal life Was a constant preparation For a blessed immortality. His angelic spirit returned to the Divine Giver On the 7th of December, 1826, In the 72nd year of his age.

Also in the same vault Are deposited the mortal remains of [his sister] Mary Ann Flaxman (deceased), Sister of the above John Flaxman, Whose gentle spirit returned to the Divine Giver On the 17th of April, 1833, in the 65th year of her age.

Note 1. Mr. John Flaxman, was born at York, 1755. From boyhood lie displayed a remarkable genius for modelling in clay.

In 1787 he visited Rome, where, during a residence of seven years, he executed his celebrated designs in outline from Homer, Æschylus and Danté.

These were engraved and published, as were some which he made from Hesiod.

Whilst at Rome he also executed the splendid group from Ovid's Metamorphoses entitled "The Fury of Athamas;" consisting of four figures larger than life. For this work he received only £6oo ; an amount very much below the cost. It was executed for the Earl of Bristol. In 1794 he returned to England and executed the monument for Lord Mansfield, now in Westminster Abbey. For this he received £2,500. After this he produced a large number of fine works, and was considered the greatest of modem sculptors. His collections of drawings and models he bequeathed to the University of London, to form a Flaxman Gallery.

On 17 May 1876 Corisande Emma Bennet Countess Malmesbury (age 69) died. Memorial in Christchurch Priory [Map] sculpted by John Flaxman.

Corisande Emma Bennet Countess Malmesbury: In 1807 she was born to Charles Augustus Bennet 5th Earl Tankerville and Corisande Armandine Sophie Léonie Hélène Gramont Countess Tankerville. On 13 May 1876 James Harris 3rd Earl Malmesbury and she were married. She by marriage Countess Malmesbury. She the daughter of Charles Augustus Bennet 5th Earl Tankerville and Corisande Armandine Sophie Léonie Hélène Gramont Countess Tankerville. He the son of James Edward Harris 2nd Earl Malmesbury and Harriet Susan Dashwood.

St Michael and All Angels Church, Ledbury [Map]. Monument to William Miles (d.1803) by John Flaxman. A small unnamed boy apparently asleep lies under the watchful care of two angels at Ledbury. Sculptors Thomas and Mary Thorneycroft.

St Mary's Church, Kirkby Fleetham [Map]. Monuments:

Cross-legged effigy of Sir Nicholas Stapleton, died 1290, in good condition, lion at feet, sword, shield and chainmail helmet. Now resting in C19 pointed-arched niche on blind quatrefoiled chest.

William Lawrence, died 1785, by Flaxman. A bust of a young man on a round pillar, with mourning woman to one side, his wife Anne Sophie, heiress to the Studley Royal estate. This is set against a grey marble slab with a pointed-arched top..

St Mary's Church, Old Basing [Map]. There are several large and small wall monuments (one by John Flaxman 1784), hatchments (one with the Royal Coat of Arms of 1660).

Church of St Peter Kirkthorpe [Map]. The chief merit of the church is a fine collection of C18 wall monuments. The most important of these is the Stringer Monument by Guelfi: 2 detached busts on a sarcophagus with straight tapering sides; background by Kent with inscription, a frame starting from 2 big volutes and crowned by an open-segmental pediment carved coat-or-arms with putti. The Smyth chapel has numerous monuments dating from 1731; including that to John Smyth of 2 putti uncovering his portrait on an oval medallion, that to Lady Georgina Smyth and others signed by Flaxman; 1799.

St Michael and Our Lady's Church, Wragby [Map]. Wall monument to Sir Rowland Winn 4th baronet by John Flaxman, 1806.

Church of St Leonard, Wortley [Map]. On east wall of south chapel to Margaret Cunynghame by John Flaxman.

Open Wednesday 1100-1500, and Saturday 1100-1300.

St Mary The Virgin Church, Rufford [Map]. Various monuments, mostly from previous chapel and church on this site, including: a small brass of a knight, Sir Robert Hesketh (d.1541) (on north wall of chapel); a large monumental slab of alabaster portraying Thomas Hesketh of Rufford (d.1463) and Margaret his wife, with their children and Hesketh coat of arms at their feet, and lettering round the margin including names; a large table monument with effigy of Sir Thomas Fermor-Hesketh 5th Baronet by Matthew Noble; at east end of south aisle a wall monument to Lady Sophia Hesketh (d.1817), by Flaxman, copiously lettered, and on north wall a tablet to Sir Thomas Hesketh (d.1778), with a verse by the poet Cowper.