The Infant Academy Relief

The infant academy, after Edward Wyon, 1848. 

A relief plaque or roundel, known as ‘The infant academy’, by sculptor E W Wyon (1811-1885). 

This highly detailed relief plaque showing three children was based on an eighteenth century painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Edward William Wyon was the son of Thomas Wyon, who was chief engraver of the seals at the Royal Mint, the Wyon family were distinguished medalists, but Edward made his mark as a sculptor.

He trained at the Royal Academy Schools and exhibited at the Royal Academy virtually every year between 1831, when he was just 20 years old, until 1876. Exhibits included busts of the Duke of Newcastle, Robert Southey, the Poet Laureate, William Wordsworth, George Stephenson, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Dr Livingstone and numerous other leading personalities of the day.

He worked for the Art Union and Wedgwood, as well as producing busts and large scale statues for Drapers Hall, the University of London, the Mansion House and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Examples of his work were included in the Great Exhibition of 1851 and The International Exhibition, London, 1862.

SIZE.

Approx 7.25 inches diameter, 184 mm.