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Portrait medallion of Carolus Linnaeus - 1777

Linnaeus was a noted natural historian and botanist. He came to prominence through his work devising a classification system for plants that is still in use today. As a noted person of the time he was an apt candidate to be featured on a Wedgwood portrait medallion. This jasper medallion was an experimental version, and features Linnaeus with a plant to his botanical connections.

In the eighteenth century Josiah I produced a vast range of portrait medallions in both black basalt and jasper - featuring subjects ranging from Popes to Roman Emperors, and from Greek Philosophers to the important people of the day. This contemporary group were known as the ‘Illustrious Moderns’. This portrait medallion features one such ‘Illustrious Modern - the botanist and natural historian Carolus Linnaeus. His most valuable contribution to society was the system of classification he introduced for naturalists, which resulted in definitions of genera and species, and a uniform system of naming plants according to their nature. This experimental jasper portrait medallion of Linnaeus features a head and shoulders study of him. He is accompanied by a motif of a plant to signify his botanical connections. It was not uncommon for the subjects of medallions to be illustrated with an appropriate object.

  • Type of object: Plaques and medallions/portrait medallion
  • Mark: LINNÆUS [Impressed on obverse]
  • Year first produced: 1777
  • Body: Jasper
  • Material: Ceramic
  • Decoration: Ornamented and sprigged
  • Accession number: 11569
  • Dimensions: 90mm (depth), 70mm (width), 8mm (height)

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Related people

  • Carolus Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) Subject

    Carolus Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) - Subject

    Year of birth: 1707

    Carolus Linnaeus, botanist and natural historian, was born in Sweden, and educated at Lund, and the University of Upsala. He became Professor of Medicine and Botany at Upsala at the age of thirty-four. He travelled widely in order to study minerals, but his most valuable contribution to society was the system of classification he introduced for naturalists, which resulted in definitions of genera and species, and a uniform system of naming plants according to their nature. The portrait medallion of Linnaeus shows him with a plant, signifying his naturalist connections. On 19 January 1775 John Flaxman junior submitted on behalf of his father, Flaxman senior, a bill for ‘Moulding and making a cast from a Medal of Lennaeus. Mending a wax medal and making a Mould from it.’ The sum of two shillings was charged for the work. There is no record of the portrait medallion subject being produced in jasper until April 1777, but there may have been earlier versions made in the black basalt body. The white on yellow jasper, and yellow on white jasper versions of the subject are experimental.

  • Thomas Bentley Associated

    Thomas Bentley - Associated

    Year of birth: 1730

    Thomas Bentley was born in Scropton in Derbyshire, and was the son of a well-to-do country gentleman. He was educated at the Presbyterian Academy at Findern, and then indentured to a wholesale merchant in Manchester. He moved to Liverpool, and was introduced to Josiah I by Wedgwood’s surgeon, Matthew Turner. From this chance meeting grew a lifelong correspondence, friendship, and later business partnership. From August 1769 to Bentley’s death in 1780 the ornamental ware partnership with Josiah grew to huge proportions and was highly successful. After Bentley died, having lost his greatest friend and confidante, Wedgwood was inconsolable.

Themes

  • Heritage Lottery Fund
  • Designated as an Outstanding Collection