Design for the Chimney Piece in the Throne Room, Buckingham Palace 1820 - 1826

John Flaxman made this design for the Chimney Piece in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace using pen and ink with a grey wash. Consider that this seemingly simple drawing represents a significant amount of labor, both intellectual and physical. Flaxman was a highly skilled artist, trained in the art of drawing, and was an accomplished sculptor. The drawing illustrates his ability to produce designs for highly decorative objects that were desired by the British elite. Notice the level of detail represented in this drawing, and the skill required to produce it. Stonemasons and other highly skilled artisans would have been employed to realize Flaxman's vision. The quantity of work that went into the design and making of the fireplace illustrates the excesses of wealth and power. Next time you encounter a drawing, remember that its apparent simplicity may belie the complex social relations of production in which it was made. By understanding these dynamics, we can challenge the traditional hierarchies that have often separated art and craft.