John and Sebastian Cabot Bronze Sculpture After John Cassidy (1860-1939)

This wonderful bronze depicting the Italian-born British explorers, Sebastian and John Cabot, after the original model by John Cassidy (1860-1939) measures an impressive 39.5 inches (100 cm) tall.  Base is inscribed John and Sebastian Cabot and signed John Cassidy fecit with the year obscured by grime and scratches.

Born in Genoa, Giovanni Caboto John Cabot (c1450-1498) emigrated to England in 1484 during the reign of King Henry VII, to find financial backing for his explorations. He is famous for his attempt to find a shorter route to Asia where he instead discovered Newfoundland and claimed north America for England.  His son, Sebastian (1474-1577) followed in his father's footsteps, exploring the world for England and Spain.

Cassidy studied at Manchester School of Art. He produced a large number of portraits and exhibited a bust of Sir Charles Hallé at the Royal Academy in 1897, busts of H. H. Hilton and James Gresham in 1904 and in 1899 a bust of G. Milner at the New Gallery.

This bronze is based on the large maquette by Cassidy shown at the New Gallery in London in 1896, no doubt inspired by the coming 400 year anniversary of Cabot's discovery of Newfoundland.  It was also exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1899 and was said to be the model for a colossal sculpture that was apparently never produced. Cassidy studied at the Manchester School of Art and received a number of local and national awards. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Hibernian Academy, The Royal Cambrian Academy, and Manchester City Art Gallery, and served as Honorable Treasurer of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts.  Source:  Benezit Dictionary of Artists.

Item ha-2103. Item sold as-is. All sales final.