George Michael Moser RA, Design for the headpiece of the Royal Academy Diploma, 1769.
Pen and ink with wash and white gouache on laid paper. 190 mm x 320 mm. © Photo: Royal Academy of Arts, London.
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Design for the headpiece of the Royal Academy Diploma, 1769
Attributed to George Michael Moser RA (1706 - 1783)
RA Collection: Art
A pen and ink design for the headpiece of the Royal Academy diploma. In the centre is a roundel displaying a scene in which the three Arts of painting, sculpture and architecture are represented as the three Graces standing before a seated figure of Britannia. Flanking the roundel on the left is a portrayal of Hercules holding the apples, in an unusually sedentary pose, with the vanquished figure of 'Envy' below him (alternatively 'Ignorance' or 'Falsehood'). On the right is a personification of Fame or Genius.
This design was approved by the RA Council to be engraved as the headpiece of the diploma but after seeing G. B. Cipriani's version they changed their minds and chose his design instead.
Object details
190 mm x 320 mm
Associated works of art
4 results
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![Giovanni Battista Cipriani RA, Design for the headpiece of the Royal Academy diploma]()
Giovanni Battista Cipriani RA
Design for the headpiece of the Royal Academy diploma, 1769
Pen and ink with wash on laid paper
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![Unknown artist, Sketched design for the headpiece of the Royal Academy diploma]()
Unknown artist
Sketched design for the headpiece of the Royal Academy diploma, 1769
Pen and ink with pencil on laid paper
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![Unknown artist, Sketched design for the headpiece of the Royal Academy diploma]()
Unknown artist
Sketched design for the headpiece of the Royal Academy diploma, 1769
Pen and ink on laid paper
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![Agostino Carlini RA, Design for the headpiece of the Royal Academy diploma]()
Attributed to Agostino Carlini RA
Design for the headpiece of the Royal Academy diploma, 1769
Pen and ink with wash on laid paper
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