Artwork
Design for a Monument
Design for a Monument is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist John Flaxman. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This graphite drawing, Design for a Monument, is a work by John Flaxman, a prominent British Neoclassical sculptor and draughtsman.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a simple tomb design, featuring a rectangular base with a curved top and a reclining figure with crossed arms, conveying a sense of calm.
Technique & Style
Executed in light, rough lines, the sketch has an unfinished quality, suggesting it is an early-stage work or a plan for a larger project.
History & Provenance
Flaxman's work on funerary monuments was influenced by his early experience as a modeller for Josiah Wedgwood's pottery and his time in Rome producing book illustrations.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Flaxman (6 July 1755 – 7 December 1826) was an English sculptor and draughtsman who was a leading figure in British and European Neoclassicism.
![Designs for a Monument [recto and verso], by John Flaxman](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/john-flaxman--designs-for-a-monument-recto-and-verso--99d236b9666f8c6a-w320.webp)
![Designs for Monuments [recto and verso], by John Flaxman](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/john-flaxman--designs-for-monuments-recto-and-verso--d8870bd37cddf1cb-w320.webp)
![Designs for a Monument to Sir William Jones (?) [recto and verso], by John Flaxman](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/john-flaxman--designs-for-a-monument-to-sir-william-jones-recto-and-verso--3c78a3064cfa399d-w320.webp)
