Collection GB 0074 E/BN - BACON, John (1777-1859)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 E/BN

Title

BACON, John (1777-1859)

Date(s)

  • 1683-1866 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

1.37 linear metres (223 documents).

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

John Bacon (1740-1799) was born in Southwark and apprenticed to a porcelain factory. His skill as a designer and sculptor was recognised and he was encouraged to exhibit with the Society of Arts, and attended the Royal Academy Schools. From designing porcelain for factories including Wedgwood, he became a highly sought after sculptor of monuments and public statues. His work included the monument to Thomas Guy at Guy's Hospital chapel, the monument to William Pitt the Elder at Westminster Abbey, the bust of Dr Johnson in St Paul's Cathedral, and colossal figures at Somerset House. He established a successful studio workshop which produced funerary monuments, garden sculpture and portrait busts for private clients.

Bacon's sons John the younger (1777-1859) and Thomas (b 1773) were apprenticed at their father's studio and then attended the Royal Academy Schools. On Bacon's death John the younger took over the studio, completing his father's commissions and proving just as successful at attracting new civic and imperial commissions. Thomas is recorded as assisting him, but disappears from the documents after 1800. From 1808 John Bacon retired from carrying out public works to focus on architectural and church sculpture. He formed a partnership with Charles Manning (1776-1812) and then his brother Samuel Manning (1788-1842), allowing them to carry on the work of the studio and use the Bacon name.

John Bacon died in 1859. His sons, John and Thomas, were both clergymen who are recorded as trustees of their father's estate (see E/BN/007, 009-010).

Information from Mary Ann Steggles, 'Bacon, John (1740-1799)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 and Jason Edwards, 'Bacon, John (1777-1859)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.

Archival history

GB 0074 E/BN 1683-1866 Collection 1.37 linear metres (223 documents). Bacon , John , 1777-1859 , sculptor

John Bacon (1740-1799) was born in Southwark and apprenticed to a porcelain factory. His skill as a designer and sculptor was recognised and he was encouraged to exhibit with the Society of Arts, and attended the Royal Academy Schools. From designing porcelain for factories including Wedgwood, he became a highly sought after sculptor of monuments and public statues. His work included the monument to Thomas Guy at Guy's Hospital chapel, the monument to William Pitt the Elder at Westminster Abbey, the bust of Dr Johnson in St Paul's Cathedral, and colossal figures at Somerset House. He established a successful studio workshop which produced funerary monuments, garden sculpture and portrait busts for private clients.

Bacon's sons John the younger (1777-1859) and Thomas (b 1773) were apprenticed at their father's studio and then attended the Royal Academy Schools. On Bacon's death John the younger took over the studio, completing his father's commissions and proving just as successful at attracting new civic and imperial commissions. Thomas is recorded as assisting him, but disappears from the documents after 1800. From 1808 John Bacon retired from carrying out public works to focus on architectural and church sculpture. He formed a partnership with Charles Manning (1776-1812) and then his brother Samuel Manning (1788-1842), allowing them to carry on the work of the studio and use the Bacon name.

John Bacon died in 1859. His sons, John and Thomas, were both clergymen who are recorded as trustees of their father's estate (see E/BN/007, 009-010).

Information from Mary Ann Steggles, 'Bacon, John (1740-1799)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 and Jason Edwards, 'Bacon, John (1777-1859)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.

Records deposited in 1954 and 1965.

Papers relating to the estate of John Bacon the younger, sculptor, including title deeds and documents relating to the purchase, ownership and sale of properties in the City of London, Bethnal Green, Paddington, Marylebone, Hoxton, Shoreditch, Stepney, Knightsbridge, Westminster and Kent; correspondence; articles of co-partnership with Charles Manning; and lists of sculptural works underway.

E/BN/001 to E/BN/223.

Available for general access.

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Records prepared May to September 2011. Bacon , John , 1777-1859 , sculptor Property law Right to property Civil law Property ownership Family archives Deeds Title deeds Artists Sculptors Property Property transfer People People by roles Property owners Information sources Documents Primary documents Personal papers Family records Bethnal Green London England UK Western Europe Europe Marylebone City of Westminster Tower Hamlets Shoreditch Kent Paddington Hoxton Hackney Knightsbridge Westminster City of London Stepney Civil and political rights Legal systems Law Human rights

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Records deposited in 1954 and 1965.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers relating to the estate of John Bacon the younger, sculptor, including title deeds and documents relating to the purchase, ownership and sale of properties in the City of London, Bethnal Green, Paddington, Marylebone, Hoxton, Shoreditch, Stepney, Knightsbridge, Westminster and Kent; correspondence; articles of co-partnership with Charles Manning; and lists of sculptural works underway.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

E/BN/001 to E/BN/223.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area