Augustus, Viscount Keppel 

John Flaxman created this relief of Augustus, Viscount Keppel, from Wedgwood Jasperware, a type of fine stoneware, popular in England at the time. Keppel was a controversial figure. As a high-ranking Admiral in the Royal Navy, he faced a court-martial for his perceived failures during a battle against the French in 1778. Although acquitted, the trial became a political battleground, reflecting the tensions between the Whig and Tory factions. Flaxman’s choice of medium is significant. Wedgwood pottery was not just aesthetically pleasing; it was also a symbol of British industrial prowess and innovation. Reliefs like this one served as portable and reproducible images, circulating ideas and allegiances among the British public. Prints, pamphlets, and caricatures would have been part of the visual culture shaping opinions about Keppel. Further research into the political climate, naval history, and the Wedgwood company archives will help us to understand the deeper meanings embedded in this portrait.