xvii Wedgwood and Flaxman 201 



Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander. Hoskins, Grant, 

 Hack wood, and Mrs. Landre were modelling at the 

 same time. Though Hackwood's portraits were ex- 

 cellent, Flaxman's were considered superior, because 

 of their artistic value. This was especially the 

 case in the Greek heads and the classical designs 

 after the antique. Some of these were so exquisite, 

 that Wedgwood had a great difficulty in parting with 

 them. 



" Some Anthonies and Cleopatras are very fine," he 

 wrote to Bentley (5th November 1775), " and a few 

 bas-reliefs, all of which I wish you to look at before 

 they go into the rooms [for sale]. The blue grounds 

 are out of the last kiln, and the Cleopatras, both of 

 which are the finest things imaginable. It really hurts 

 me to think of Carting with these gems, the fruit of 

 twenty years' toil, for the trifle we shall receive, to make 

 the business worthy of our notice." 



The new body called Jasper, because of its likeness 

 to the stone of that name, was first used in November 

 1775. It was composed of a mixture of flint, potters' 

 clay, carbonate of barytes, zaffre, sulphate of barytes, 

 and Terra ponder osa. Wedgwood kept this combination 

 very secret. To Bentley he wrote : " I have tried my 

 new mixing of Jasper, and find it very good. Indeed 

 I have not much fear of it ; but it is a satisfaction to be 

 certain, and I am now absolute in this precious article, 

 and can make it with as much facility and certainty as 

 black ware. Sell what quantity you please. I would 



