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John Barnard

1744
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 510
The Flemish-born Rysbrack was a dominant force in developing the psychologically penetrating portraiture of Augustan England. A log of his busts, begun by George Vertue in 1732 and continued until 1744, lists a bust of "Dr. Bernard, Bp Rapho," as well as a "Son of Mr. Bernard." The fate of the former bust is not known, but the Museum's bust is securely identifiable with the latter. William Barnard was consecrated bishop of Raphoe in Northern Ireland in 1744, succeeded to the bishopric of Derry in 1746–47, and died in 1768. The names of two sons, both clergymen, are recorded, but that of John Barnard is not. The boy is fashionably outfitted in Hussar costume, but there is a grave and wasted aspect to his intelligent features. Conceivably Rysbrack was asked to perpetuate the memory of a beloved child who died at about the age of eight.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: John Barnard
  • Artist: John Michael Rysbrack (Flemish, Antwerp 1694–1770 London)
  • Date: 1744
  • Culture: British, London
  • Medium: Marble
  • Dimensions: Overall (confirmed): 17 × 12 1/8 × 9 1/8 in. (43.2 × 30.8 × 23.2 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, The Moses Lazarus Collection, Gift of Sarah and Josephine Lazarus, Bequest of Kate Read Blacque, in memory of her husband, Valentine Alexander Blacque, and Bequests of Mary Clark Thompson and Barbara S. Adler, by exchange, 1976
  • Object Number: 1976.330
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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Mantelpiece from Chesterfield House, London, John Michael Rysbrack Flemish, Marble, British
Mantelpiece from Chesterfield House, London
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John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650–1722), John Michael Rysbrack Flemish, Carrara marble, British
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The Return of Joseph, John Michael Rysbrack Flemish, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, heightened with white
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John Barnard, John Michael Rysbrack Flemish, Terracotta<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>__________________________________________________________ _____________________<br/>Owner/Representative’s signature Date, British, London
Returned to lender
John Barnard
John Michael Rysbrack
1743
Console table from Croome Court, Worcestershire, Robert Adam British, Scottish, Carved and painted pine with newly carved swags; marble sheets veneered on a limestone core, British
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