FLA%MAN, Joins, tire greatest of English sculptors, was b. at Fork, 6th July, 1755. At the age of 15, he became a student in the royal academy, but never worked in the studio of any master. In 1782, he married Miss Ann Denman, a lady of superior gifts and graces, who soon began to exercise a beneficial influence upon his studies. Accom panied by tier, lie went in 1787 to Italy„ where, by degrees, he attracted the attention of all lovers of art. This was still more the case after his return to London in 1794. IIe was elected an associate of the royal academy in 1797; royal academician in 1800; and, in 1810, was appointed professor of sculpture to that institution. After the death of his wife in 1820, lie withdrew from society, and died 7th Dec., 1826. F.'s most celebrated works are his "Outlines to Homer's Odyssey" (Rome, 1793), and "The Iliad" (Loud. 1795), and his illustrations of Dante and Eschylus. Many of his works display wonderful grandeur of composition, and a pure and noble style. He was one of the first of those who, fol lowing the example of Wiuckelmaun, strove to penetrate to the true spirit of antique art, in opposition to the false taste of the time. The study of vase paintings, and of the
Pompeian mural pictures, then just revived, led bins to abandon the sickly mannerism of his predecessors for the severe simplicity of the antique, and he may with justice be styled the author of modern rilievo (see ALTO-Rrrxvo). His works are not, however, all of equal value, and, in general, it may be said that his skill in modeling was not equal to Ins inventive genius. The poetry of his conceptions is of a highs order. F. con tributed much toward bringing the outline style, now so popular, into general use. Of his sculptures, the best known in England are his bus-relief monument to the poet Collins at Chichester, the monument to lord Mansfield, and that to the Baring family at lffielmeldean church, in Hampshire. His model for the shield of Achilles, taken from the 18th book of the Iliad, is particularly worthy of admiration. F.'s private collection is now in university college, London, in the gallery known as Ffaxman Hall.