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John Bacon RA, Drawing for Major Pierson's memorial, Jersey

Drawing for Major Pierson's memorial, Jersey, by 1784

John Bacon RA (1740 - 1799)

RA Collection: Art

This is a design for part of Bacon's memorial to Major Pierson (1757-1781) who was killed defending Jersey against an attack by the French. The pyramid-shaped plaque was erected in St Helier's Parish Church in 1784. This drawing is for a circular relief panel at the bottom of the plaque. The scene is an allegorical representation of Pierson's heroic death. The soldier about to kill him holds a banner decorated with fleurs-de-lys, symbolising France.

The same event also inspired John Singleton Copley to produce one of his most successful paintings, 'The Death of Major Pierson' (Tate Britain, 1782-4).

This work comes from one of sixteen volumes of Royal Academy Annual Exhibition catalogues that were collected and extra-illustrated by the lawyer and antiquarian Edward Basil Jupp F.S.A. (1812 - 1877). The catalogues span the period from the first annual exhibition in 1769 up to 1875. Jupp added drawings, prints, letters and autographs by, or referring to, Academicians and other exhibitors at the Academy's annual exhibition.

E.B. Jupp was a solicitor who married Eliza Kay, daughter of the architect William Porden Kay. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a clerk of the Carpenters' Company, of which he published a history. Jupp amassed a large collection of paintings by British and Dutch artists, drawings, prints, books and porcelain most of which was sold after his death, at Christie's in February 1878.

Many of the drawings in Jupp's Royal Academy extra-illustrated volumes were bought from art sales during the 1860s. He was also acquainted with a number of contemporary artists and several drawings in the later volumes (along with many of the letters and autographs) were sent from the artists themselves.

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Object details

Title
Drawing for Major Pierson's memorial, Jersey
Artist/designer
John Bacon RA (1740 - 1799)
Date
by 1784
Object type
Drawing
Medium
Pen and ink, and wash on cream laid paper
Dimensions

240 mm x 208 cm

Collection
Royal Academy of Arts
Object number
03/1655
Acquisition
Given by Leverhulme Trust 1936
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