The late eighteenth century in Europe
witnessed a revival of interest in the art,
architecture and literature of antiquity. It
became customary for the sons of wealthy
families to embark upon a ‘Grand Tour’ as part
of their education and Italy was the principle
destination. The ruins of Rome and the
rediscovery of sites such as Pompeii and
Herculaneum helped to stimulate the market
for antiquities. The purchase of souvenirs
abroad, whether genuine or of recent
manufacture, helped to spread this fashion for
the antique.
James Tassie (1735-1799) was one of a
number of highly skilled artists who capitalised
on this demand. Born in Scotland he started
his career as a stonemason before returning to
study sculpture and modelling at the Glasgow
Academy. Having travelled to Dublin in Ireland
to seek commissions, he made the
acquaintance of an amateur gem engraver, Dr
Quinn. Together the two men developed a
new type of white enamel that was ideally
suited to portrait medallions. However it was
after relocating to London in 1766 that
Tassie’s career as a gem engraver really took
off. He soon acquired an international
reputation, and received a commission for
15,000 pieces from Catherine the Great,
Empress of Russia. Many prestigious European
collections were made accessible to him for the
purposes of study. His knowledge of antique
designs was highly esteemed and he was
commissioned to provide designs for Josiah
Wedgwood. In fact his gems and medallions
proved so popular that the business continued
to flourish in the early nineteenth century
under the direction of his nephew William
Tassie.
- (CK.0232)
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