John Deare 1759-1798. British School 18th.Century Pen and ink drawing. A sheet of male figure studies. 12 by 17.5 cms. Drawn on laid paper some slight age related foxing to no real detriment.
Born to a jeweller in Liverpool, John Deare enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools in 1777. He also served an apprenticeship with the London carver Thomas Carter from 1776 to 1783, before setting up on his own. He continued to produce work for his old master as well as for John Bacon and John Cheere. Deare was himself greatly admired by his contemporaries, particularly by Joseph Nollekens.
The Royal Academy awarded him a pension for a three-year stay in Rome (on the condition he sent back a work to the RA's annual exhibition). He also acted as an agent for Thomas Hope and the Earl of Bristol in their acquisition of works by his friend John Flaxman and for Henry Blundell and John Latouche in acquiring works by Canova, all four of whom also bought works by Deare. After his Royal Academy pension expired he found that he was so in demand in Rome that he was able to settle there and finance himself through carving copies of classical sculptures for British Grand Tourists.