【Wedgwood Jasper Dip】 Apotheosis of Homer / plaque and vase / John Flaxman design / c.1779《WareWish》

April 06, 2024

Wedgwood Jasper Dip

Apotheosis of Homer / plaque & vase

《John Flaxman design / c.1779》

Original design: Apotheosis of Homer

Wedgwood Apotheosis of Homer plaque 1

Plaque: This plaque features a light blue background adorned with white relief depicting scenes of "Homeric deities." The design was crafted by British sculptor, draughtsman, and designer, Mr. John Flaxman (1755-1826), inspired by the ancient Greek and Roman original illustrations found in the publications of Sir William Hamilton (1730-1803). It is considered one of Wedgwood's most significant Jasperware pieces. John Flaxman was a prominent artist employed by Wedgwood in the 18th century. The length is 14 inches; Height, 7 inches.

牌匾: 這塊牌匾聚焦於“荷馬神化”場景，具有淺藍色底色，並飾有白色浮雕。這個設計是由英國雕塑家、製圖師和設計師John Flaxman(1755-1826)先生創作的，靈感源自於William Hamilton(1730-1803)爵士出版的書籍中的古希臘和古羅馬原始藝術。這塊牌匾被認為是Wedgwood最重要的Jasperware作品之一。John Flaxman是十八世紀Wedgwood所僱用極具成就的藝術家。此塊牌匾的長度是14 英吋；高度是7 英吋。

Wedgwood Apotheosis of Homer plaque 2

Vase: This design was copied direct by Flaxman from an antique red- figured krater now in the British Museum (E460), a vase that formerly belonged to Sir William Hamilton. It shows a musician standing to right, facing Niké, one foot still resting upon the platform upon which he has stood. The length is 18 inches.

瓶子: 這項設計是弗萊克斯曼直接從現藏於大英博物館的一個紅色古董火瓶 (E460) 中複製而來，該花瓶曾屬於威廉•漢密爾頓爵士 (Sir William Hamilton)。它展示了一位音樂家站在右邊，面對Niké，一隻腳仍然擱在他曾經站過的平台上。這只瓶子的高度是18英吋。

Wedgwood Apotheosis of Homer vase 1

In his left arm he holds the lyre, resting it upon his knee; the plectrum is seen in his right hand. The other male figure, seated at the extreme right, and clad in the gracefully draped folds of a Doric cloak, is the judge of the contest. Behind the musician are two female figures, a winged genius descending in haste, and a seated figure wearing the sleeveless chiton, her hair caught up by an embroidered kerchief.

他的左臂握著豎琴，將其擱在膝蓋上，撥片在他的右手上。另一個男性人物坐在最右邊，穿著一件優雅的多立克斗篷，他是這場比賽的評審。樂師身後有兩個女性身影，一個是長著翅膀的天才，匆忙降臨，另一個是穿著無袖長袍、頭髮被繡花頭巾盤起的坐著人物。

John Flaxman self-portrait at age 24, c.1779

This drawing was designed by John Flaxman for Wedgwood between 1777 and 1779. It is a most poetic subject poetically rendered; and, considering that Flaxman was not more than twenty-three years of age when he modelled the design for this fine bas-relief, it may be considered to indicate all those qualities of grace, simplicity, keeping, and truth which, exhibited in his later works, have given rightly to him the fame of being the most distinguished of English sculptors.

此圖是John Flaxman 在 1777 年至 1779 年間為Wedgwood設計。而且，考慮到弗拉克斯曼在設計這件精美的淺浮雕時年齡不超過二十三歲，它可以被認為表明了他在他的作品中所展示的所有優雅、簡單、保守和真實的品質。後來的作品，使他理所當然地享有英國最傑出雕塑家的聲譽。

Wedgwood Apotheosis of Homer vase 2

On the opposite side of the vase is a design, unu- sual on vases of this description, representing Minerva in full panoply, lacking the spear, framed in a Doric portal over which towers an enormous palm. The piece is further or- namented with honeysuckle, oak-wreath, and trellis pattern at neck, base and plinth, with outflaring snake and "Medusa"-head handles, and, surmounting the cover, a well-modeled Pegasus in white jasper.

花瓶的另一側有一個圖案，這在此類花瓶中並不常見，代表了Minerva全副武裝，沒有長矛，被框在多立克式的門上，門上聳立著一隻巨大的棕櫚樹。這件作品的頸部、底座和底座還飾有金銀花、橡木花環和格子圖案，手柄上有向外張開的蛇和"美杜莎"的頭，封面上有一座造型精美的白色碧玉飛馬座。

Wedgwood Apotheosis of Homer vase (Medusa-head)

The main design was modeled by Flaxman sometime during the year 1777, but the piece was probably not made before 1785-1790, when most of the larger and finer ornamented jasper vases were made.

主要設計是由 Flaxman 在 1777 年的某個時候製作的，但這件作品可能不是在1785年至1790年之前製作的，當時大多數較大且裝飾精美的碧玉花瓶都是在那時製作的。

Wedgwood Apotheosis of Homer vase 3

The following is light green dip-stained jasper vase decorated with a Pegasus panel and a bas-relief decoration of the "Apotheosis of Homer". Light green "Homer's Vase" is relatively rare. Modeled by artist John Flaxman in 1786 and produced by Wedgwood in 1790.

以下是淺綠色浸染碧玉花瓶，飾有飛馬座飾板和"荷馬神化"淺浮雕裝飾。淺綠色"荷馬花瓶"比較少見。由藝術家John Flaxman在西元1786年建模，Wedgwood於西元1790年製作。

Wedgwood Apotheosis of Homer vase (light green) 4

<Remark 1>

In a review from "The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Catalogue of the Collection of Pottery, Porcelain, and Faience" by Garrett Chatfield Pier, it suggests that the design might be referred to as "Nike Crowning the Victor with a Lyre," rather than the commonly stated "Homeric Deification."

<註1>

有趣的是，在"大都會博物館"的評論中(THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART: CATALOGUE OF THE COLLECTION OF POTTERY, PORCELAIN HBHll AND FAIENCE(BY GARRETT CHATFIELD PIER))認為，其設計可能是被稱為“Niké為豎琴比賽的勝利者加冕”，而不是通常所說的“荷馬的神化”。

Book of Metropolitan Museum of Art

<Remark 2>

Homer (born c. 8th century BC) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey", two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the most revered and influential authors in history.

<註2>

荷馬(約出生於西元前8世紀)是一位希臘詩人，被認為是《伊利亞德》和《奧德賽》的作者，這兩部史詩是古希臘文學的基礎作品。荷馬是歷史上最受尊敬和最有影響力的作家之一。

<Remark 3>

Homer "ODYSSEY": Phemius singing to the suitors (illustrated by John Flaxman).

<註3>

荷馬"奧德賽": Phemius向求婚者唱歌(由John Flaxman所繪)

Homer "ODYSSEY"
Phemius singing to the suitors
(illustrated by John Flaxman)

Reference:

1. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

2. The British Museum.

3. Wikipedia.

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