Widely regarded as one of the most defining figures of British art, John Flaxman was a draughtsman, designer and sculptor who was born in York in 1755. Next month, a major new exhibition at York Art Gallery, Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman, lifts the lid on Flaxman’s legacy, and highlights the profound influence he had on his contemporaries.
Running to mark the 200th anniversary of Flaxman’s death, the exhibition features highlights including J.M.W. Turner’s striking ‘Ulysses deriding Polyphemus – Homer’s Odyssey’, from the National Gallery’s collection, Turner’s ‘The Fall of Anarchy’ and William Blake’s ‘Beatrice Addressing Dante from the Car’, both on loan from Tate, and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres’s ‘Paolo and Francesca’, on loan from the Barber Institute of Fine Art. Visitors can also marvel at iconic Wedgwood jasperware, designed and modelled by Flaxman himself, his fantastic diploma sculpture ‘Apollo and Marpessa’, and his monumental silver-gilt ‘Shield of Achilles’ from Koopman Rare Art, one of only five in the world.
Dr Beatrice Bertram, Senior Curator at York Art Gallery, said: “Flaxman’s ideas influenced the work of his contemporaries, such as Turner, Blake and York’s own William Etty, and continued to inspire artists across Britain and Europe long after his death. Our exhibition explores these connections, inviting visitors to discover an artist whose imagination helped shape iconic works of art. As one of the artists who is commemorated on the facade of York Art Gallery, there’s no more fitting place to tell Flaxman’s story than in his home city.”
Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman runs from 18 September until 17 January 2027, and is included in general admission to York Art Gallery. Visit www.yorkartgallery.org.uk to find out more or plan your visit.
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