Art Appreciation: Speaking Stone - Sculpture in the Eighteenth Century

Some of the most telling works of art from the eighteenth century are not paintings but sculpture. Many can be found in our parish churches and a few in the great houses of the time. They are always worth seeking out. Knowing something about this underrated aspect of the fine arts can enhance your travels and explorations.

There are great things to be discovered in sculpture, and understudied aspect of English art. The eighteenth century represents not only one of the artistic peaks but also one of the most accessible periods. There are ostentatious church monuments, but also informal busts. It reflects wider cultural trends such as classicism, sensibility and neo-classicism and develops a vivid visual language using the possibilities of three dimensions.

We will meet some great sculptors such as Roubilliac and Flaxman and explore the range of sculptures made in our period using case-studies of a few examples. Discussion, debate and questioning is very much encouraged and you will never just walk past a piece of sculpture in a gallery or figural monument in a church again.