Study of an Urn; Study for the Frieze Decoration around the Urn

Edward Pierce (Pearce) II British

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The son of a decorative painter, Edward Pierce the younger pursued a career as sculptor and architect, modeling busts of Oliver Cromwell (1672) and Sir Christopher Wren (1673), then working on city churches designed by the latter after the Great Fire of London. Pierce himself designed the Bishop's Palace at Lichfield (1686-87) and was known as a skilled decorative carver. He likely made this designs for an ornate decorative urn in the 1690s while employed at Hampton Court. Two sheets are here affixed to one mount with the drawing above describing the whole urn and that below a classical scene of sacrifice around the bowl.

Study of an Urn; Study for the Frieze Decoration around the Urn, Edward Pierce (Pearce) II (British, London ca. 1635–ca. 1695 London), Pen and brown ink, brush and blue-gray wash, over black chalk; stencilled gold border

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