xvn Wedgwood and Flaxman 1 99 



supreme coxcomb, but a little more experience may 

 have cured him of this foible." This allusion to Flax- 

 man no doubt refers to his defeat by Engleheart at the 

 Academy. Although Wedgwood thus referred to the 

 sculptor, he very soon became one of his most attached 

 and generous patrons. Bentley was the first who dis- 

 covered Flaxman, most probably through the introduc- 

 tion of the latter to him by Mrs. Matthew and Mrs. 

 Barbauld, as they all belonged to the same religious 

 community. 



Wedgwood proceeded to order some works from 

 Flaxman. The first was a model for a Chimneypiece, 

 two models for Vases, four Bas-reliefs of the Seasons, 

 and several models of the ancient gods and god- 

 desses Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Apollo, and others. 

 His charges were not great : 3 : 3s. for the pair of 

 vases, one with a Satyr and the other with a Triton 

 handle ; 2 : 2s. for the four Bas-reliefs of the Seasons ; 

 1 : 15s. for an antique Vase sculptured with figures ; 

 and 10s. for each of the ancient gods and goddesses. 

 2 : 2s. was paid for two statues, and 8s. 6d. for two 

 cups and saucers. These works were done in March 

 and April 1775, and the whole were paid for amount- 

 ing to 12 : 18s. in January 1776. 



Some may think it a descent for a draughtsman and 

 sculptor like Flaxman to have designed for Wedgwood 

 such common things as cups and saucers. But it was 

 not really so. An artist may be a true educator in 

 taste while designing a common teapot or water-jug. 



