XVII 



Wedgwood and Flaxman 221 



Wedgwood furnished Flaxman with letters of intro- 

 duction to his friends at Eome. To Micali of Leghorn 

 he wrote as to the bill of lading of Flaxman's chest, 

 " It is the property of Mr. Flaxman, an artist of this 

 country, and a much valued friend of mine, who is 

 going to make some residence in Italy. . . . Whatever 

 expenses may be incurred, you will please charge to 

 my account, and favour me with a line of advice." 



Flaxman and his wife went by Paris, and stayed a 

 few days there. He was visited by the Due de Bouillon, 

 who gave him a few commissions for Wedgwood. The 

 travellers went forward to Eome, and arrived there 

 safely. Wedgwood's eldest son, accompanied by Webber, 

 was in Eome at the time of his arrival, and visited him 

 frequently. Flaxman continued to do work for Wedg- 

 wood. Many letters may have passed between them ; 

 but the first I possess is dated 24th December 1788, 

 about a year after his arrival in Eome. In that letter 

 Flaxman says : " I am concerned you have not received 

 the wax model of the Prince of Piedmont's portrait. 

 ... It was sent in Mr. J. Wedgwood's baggage, with 

 the snuff-box from which it was copied. ... I am 

 finishing a bas-relief restored from the antique, of the 

 birth of Bacchus, for Mr. Wedgwood." Flaxman also 

 sent a finished model of Mercury from Eome; and 

 another of Shakespeare. 



Canova had the greatest respect and admiration for 

 the works of Flaxman. He made an express visit from 

 Venice to Eome for the purpose of seeing and making 



