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A set of Henning’s plaster relief panels of the Elgin Marbles. Made circa 1820-1851. Fifty-one (51) 1/20 scale plaster relief panels copying the famous Elgin Marbles, on seven wooden trays. In original or contemporary wood case. Metal plaques seemingly removed from outside of case. Contemporary collector’s note describing the set affixed to inner lid. Many plasters broken and repaired. A fantastic set. Additional shipping charges will apply.
John Henning was a British sculptor famous for his detailed and accurate portrait medallions. In 1811, Henning viewed the Parthenon marbles at Burlington House and received permission from Lord Elgin himself to make drawings from them. While preparing a portrait of Princess Charlotte in 1812, Henning showed the princess his sketches of the friezes. She requested a carving in ivory of from a portion of the north frieze. The sculptor notes, “I had not yet worked in anything except in wax and clay. I set to work and afterwards showed her the carving, which pleased her; she luxuriated in the idea of casting from it, and distributing the casts among her friends.” (Malden 1977) From this encounter, the sculptor took the idea of reproducing and selling copies of the marbles in miniature. The plastered were ready for distribution by 1820, as evidenced by an advertising flyer in the Sir John Soane’s Museum Library, and proved to be quite popular, with one even selling to the future William IV.
Henning’s miniatures of the Elgin marbles are not quite true to life. While he did indeed make drawings, he relied for detail on those made by several others, including sketches by Jacques Carrey in 1674, before they were damaged in the 1687 Siege of the Acropolis. In 1827, Henning, now joined by his son, prepared a series of sculptures in the style of the Parthenon marbles to adorn Hyde Park Gate. John Henning Jr. would also make a copy of the frieze for the Athenaeum Club in London.
Closing Date and Time: 5 June 2024 at 16:38:20 ET.
All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.
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