The Statuette of Milton by John Cheere

 A Statuette of Milton 

by or after John Cheere

Painted Plaster

Height approx 50 cms (to be confirmed)

Private English Collection.

I have posted on the Cheere statuettes previously see -

http://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2014/11/bronzed-statuettes-to-turner-by-john.html

As can be seen from these photographs this statuette has been quite thickly overpainted.

As I haven't inspected this statuette closely - it is impossible to determine the quality.

No obvious sign of an inscription - although it is impossible to see the inscription on the York Art Gallery version below .

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John Milton

Bronzed Plaster Statuette

H 52 x W 28 x D 15.4 cm.

York Art Gallery.

Inscribed at the bottom front of plinth: Cheere, Ft. / 1749.

not visible in these photographs

These excellent photographs below from the Art UK sculpture database website.

https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/john-milton-16081674-272408/view_as/grid/search/date-from:1640--works:john-milton-16081674/page/1

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The Milton Statuette at Ham House

Probably by John Cheere.

Shakespeare, Milton and Spenser

Statuettes at Ham House.

National Trust.

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Milton and Shakespeare

52.3 cms and 51.1 cms

Plaster Statuettes

Musee Royal de Beaux Arts Belgium.

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John Milton

Staffordshire Pearlware

incised to the underside 1816/W. Cook, 1816

Described as probably Enoch Wood

Heigh 48 cms

Sold Christies  Lot 97 26 April 2001

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-2037289

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Stockspring Antiques catalogue.

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Derby Porcelain

Figure of John Milton

31.8cms

Indianapolis Museum.

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Charles Harris produced Plaster statuettes of various figures including Milton

probably from moulds originally from John Cheere.

           Charles Harris and Richard Parker, Plaster Figures and Busts.

 Harris is noted at 162 Strand, London Kent’s Directory of 1794.

 

 Harris was in partnership with Richard Parker by 1776, working at Parker's premises in the Strand, opposite the New Church with second premises in Bond Street, Bath.

 

Richard Parker specialized in making casts. There was a set of busts by him at Ashburnham Place, Sussex, - Locke, Milton, Congreve, Prior, See Biographical Dictionary of Sculptors .Roscoe. 2009) Parker is mentioned as Statuary of The Strand, bankrupt in The Gentleman’s Magazine and The Town and Country Magazine in October, 1776.

 

 Parker was employed by Wedgwood, their archives contain a letter from their London agent William Cox which states “Mr Parker has cast the medallions off in the best manner him and I could well contrive. I should be glad of your notes respecting the propriety or Deserts of the Performance. (Wedgwood/ParkerE5/30873 undated)

 

 Theodore Parker, father of Richard supplied Wedgwood in 1769 with a figure of Shakespeare. In 1769 Theodore supplied Wedgwood with Flora, Seres, Spencer, Hercules, Seres Large Juno, Prudence, Milton and Shakespeare (Wedgwood/Parker L1/73, Theodore Parker acct Sept 1769 – 18 Dec 1769

 Also supplied ‘Bracket open work’, ‘a boy a couch’ 3 dogge. Same refs

 

In 1774, Richard Parker supplied busts to Wedgwood & Bentley; see Plagiarism personified. European pottery and porcelain figures, Julia Poole 1986.

 Busts Zingara and Vestal and Pug Dog 10th Feb 1774. On the bill is the printed heading

 ‘Scagliola;/or Plaster casts of Elegant subjects/ proper to introduce into the decoration of rooms, staircases, halls etc/ Richard Parker/ Opposite the new curch in the Strand/ having obtained from Joseph Wilton Esq. statuary to his majesty,/ various moulds of bas reliefs and bustos, made upon his original models / has the honour to acquaint the nobility and gentry, that they may be accommodated with casts at the shortest notice, Sundry samples of which with/ their prices may be seen at the above RICHARD PARKER’S / N.B. These original casts can be had at no other place; and although it may happen/ that some figure makers may clandestinely make moulds of any of those casts, they can / produce at best but an impression void of every original touch’.

 

 

In 1785 in Biographical Anecdotes of William Hogarth: with a catalogue of his works by John Nichols ... - Page 20 mentions a catalogue of the Statues, Bustos, etc of Richard Parker Statuary in the Strand and Hogarth’s Pug Dog.

For Charles Harris and Plaster Statuary see:

http://english18thcenturyportraitsculpture.blogspot.com/2016/01/charles-harris-catalogue.html