JOHN HENNING (ENGLISH, 1771-1851): A SET OF SIX PLASTER RELIEFS AFTER RAPHAEL

depicting Biblical scenes, all signed 'HENNING' and with various exact dates from 1820-1821, of rectangular form and cast in relief, with titles below each image, later mounted in marbled paper decorated glazed frames,

the panels 25.5cm wide x 18cm high (6)

During the 18th and 19th centuries the interest in classical sculpture was at its height and many original examples and copies adorned country houses and art academies all over Britain. John Henning, a Scottish born artist, is perhaps best known for his plaster copies of the Elgin marbles. He was one of the first to access the Elgin marbles when they arrived in London and embarked on a project of making models of the Parthenon and Phigaleian friezes, restoring the missing elements, an undertaking which he felt was not only useful for his own artistic gain, but also for pecuniary reasons. His initial studies in ivory were unsuccessful and so he intaglio carved slate which he used as moulds for plaster casting, producing small tablet sections which were sold in boxes. Working for Josiah Wedgwood at the time, Henning took twelve years to complete the reliefs.