JOHN FLAXMAN. 265 



te London, en by Lambertus Van Veldhuysen, Alleen in de 

 Zeven Provintien, in's Konigs Waapen, le Amsterdam." 

 In the following year, 1779, a sixth edition of the French 

 catalogue, and a fifth of the English one, were published. 

 This latter is interesting as being the last edition issued by 

 Wedgwood and Bentley. In it only the four varieties of 

 bodies are named, showing clearly that the " Bamboo" and 

 the " Mortar " bodies were of later invention. The " Jasper " 

 was then, too, apparently still in its infancy, and is not 

 described as in the later catalogue, to which I shall have 

 occasion yet to refer. 



Somewhat before this period but I cannot speak with 

 certainty to the year Wedgwood and Bentley engaged the 

 services of John Flaxman, then a young and unknown man, 

 and to his fostering care, to no inconsiderable extent, did 

 the great sculptor owe his name and his imperishable fame. 

 It was the employment he received from Wedgwood which 

 for years u kept the wolf from his door," and enabled him 

 to live while he worked his way up in art. It was this 

 employment which enabled him to earn money to take a 

 home for himself, and to plant in it that blessing and joy 

 of his life, his wife, Ann Denman, and which also helped 

 him on to lay by money to visit Eome, and study the works 

 of the great masters. It would be highly interesting 

 to compile a list of all the groups, and medallions, and 

 bas-reliefs of one kind or other which Flaxman produced 

 for Wedgwood. A complete list of this kind, however, 

 there is little hope of getting together. So far as may be 

 done I purpose doing at a future time. For the present I 

 shall content myself with the pleasure of giving my readers, 

 a little later .on in the present chapter, copies of someof 

 Flaxman's original bills for models and drawings, which will 

 be of no inconsiderable service to collectors of Wedgwood 

 ware. 



In 1780, on the 26th of November, Thomas Bentley, the 

 friend and partner of Josiah Wedgwood, died at his resi- 

 dence at Turnham Green, near London, and his burial is 



