Lot 128: Edward Burch (English, 1730-1814): A bronze ecorche figure of a man after a model by Michael Henry Spang (Danish, active 1750-1767)

the figure with his right arm raised above his head, balanced on his right leg with his left leg resting, on an integral oval socle, dark brown patination, mounted on a cylindrical marble plinth, 31cm high

Originally thought to be of Florentine origin and attributed to Pietro Francavilla, scholars have now traced the history of this fascinating model back to the full size plaster ecorches (anamatomical figures) first used by the anatomist Dr. William Hunter in the first half of the 18th century. These plaster moulds were cast directly from the corpses of executed criminals go give them their extremely accurate proportions; and were used to instruct Hunter's pupils at the Royal Academy.

The present version was first invented by the Danish sculptor Michael Henry Spang at Hunter's request, and was a direct reduction modelled in wax of one of these plaster ecorches. Spang exhibited this model this model at the Society of Artists in 1761 and it was awarded a premium there in 1762. Tt must also have been a highly prized possession of Doctor Hunter as he is portrayed holding it in a portrait by Mason Chamberlain, dated 1769. This original wax model is now in the University of Glasgow.

Edward Burch cast reproductions of spang's wax model in bronze from 1767 probably until his death in 1814. He exhibited two casts 'from a wax model' at the Royal Academy in 1775; and Martin Kemp records that an early manuscript belonging to the Hunterian Museum alludes to a figure in brass cast from a model in wax by Mr Burch and that other casts were made at Doctor Hunter's request.

See M. Kemp, Dr. William Hunter at the Royal Academy of Arts, Glasgow, 1975 for an example of a similar ecorché attributed to Spang and cast by Burch. A further example was sold at Sothebys, London, 5/12/2007, lot 76.
Related Literature: M. J. Kemp, Dr William Hunter at the Royal Academy of Arts (University of Glasgow, 1975).