The Family Library (Harper). Volume 19 - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846 Excerpt: ... JOHN FLAXMAN. Four brothers of the name of Flaxman, says the family traditjon, fought on the side of the Parliament at the battle of Naseby. James was shot through both arms in pursuing the King; Francis died on the field; the third--whose name is not mentioned--went with the victorious army to Ireland; John, the fourth and youngest, relinquished arms, commenced fariner--some have added carrier--in Buckinghamshire; and third in descent from him was the great sculptoi whose life and works I am about to delineate. His father, a John also, was a moulder of figures, who failing to find employment with the artists of London, sought work in the country,, accompanied by his wife, whose maiden name was Lee. In the course of one of these professional pilgrimages, his second son, John, was born, 6th July, 1755, in the city of York. When six months old, he was removed to London along with his brother William who lived to distinguish himself as a carver in wood. The elder Flaxman appears to have been a worthy man, of diligence and skill in his business, who, besides working for such sculptors as gave him employment, kept a small shop in New Street, Covent Garden, and afterwards in the Strand, for the sale of plaster figures; and of his first wife, for he was twice married, it is the common story that she was lemiss in the duties of her household, and that to her carelessness the bodily weakness of her eminent son was to be chiefly ascribed. But the boy was weakly, and slightly deformed from his birth, and it surely was not a mother devoid of tenderness who brought him safely through that long disease, his infancy. From childhood, Flaxman was of a serene temper and enthusiastic mind. His weakness prevented him from associating with boys of his own age, and he had to se...