555. John Henning (1771-1851) Rare Set Six Plaster Plaques Cast in Relief After Raphael


Fine Rare Set of John Henning Rectangular Plaster Plaques Cast in Relief after Raphael each fully signed and titled.  

Set of four identical in size and two a little smaller. 

Plaque 1: AFTER RAPHAEL HENNING 1820 LONDON 

Plaque 2: HENNING, LONDON JULY 7, 1821. 

Plaque 3: HENNING, MAY 2 1821 AFTER RAPHAEL  

Plaque 4: HENNING NOVR 13th 1820 

Plaque 5: HENNING, MARCH 1821 AFTER RAPHAEL  

Plaque 6: AFTER RAPHAEL HENNING 1820 SEPT 10, LONDON 

Condition: Very good for such early pieces. We have lightly cleaned renoving all dust and some spot staining. 

Set Four: 10.5” x 7.25” (26.5cm x 18cm). 

Smaller Pair: 10” x 7” (25.5cm x 18cm). 

Shipped to Richmond Way, London, England. 

Worldwide Store to door shipping 

John Henning, a Scottish born artist, was most famous for his plaster casts after the Parthenon and Phigaleian friezes, which formed part of Lord Elgin's collection of Greek sculpture first displayed in England from 1808 to invited guests. Henning's technique employed for reproducing both antique reliefs and Renaissance cartoons involved intaglio carving slate to use as moulds for plaster casting, producing small tablets that were sold in boxes.  
 
The present set were copies of Raphael's (Italy, 1483-1520) cartoons commissioned by Pope Leo X as designs for tapestries destined for the Sistine Chapel. In the 17th century the cartoons became the property of the royal collection at Hampton Court, and it is probably here Henning was able to refer to them in the early 19th century. 
 
Provenance: reputedly acquired by George Reeve, born 1803, a designer who won a medal at the Birmingham Industrial Exhibition in 1865 for his repousse work, and thence by descent to the present owner. 

Sold Bonhams Knightsbridge, London "Period Design" Sale December 2009.