Aggiornamenti e precisazioni su John Deare: un nuovo carteggio irlandese, nuove fonti, nuove interpretazioni

The figure of the sculptor John Deare (1759-1798) – originally from Liverpool, but active in Rome until his death in the last quarter of the 18th century – has been progressively rediscovered by scholars in the last twenty years. New sources make it possible not only to confirm the idea of his leading role in the pre-Napoleonic Roman scene, but also to highlight his complexity within the artistic system of his time, thus defining a more precise profile of the sculptor. In particular, a new correspondence highlights Deare’s relations with anti-British circles (the commissioning of pro-French Irish military aristocracies), an issue that led to recurring mentions of him in the sources of the time as a “no longer English” artist, a question to which the studies so far compiled do not seem to have given due weight. In addition, an analysis of Deare’s biography and social networks makes it possible to reflect on his role within the AngloRoman colony, as well as the nature of his critical fortune, while new drawings and documents provide insight into the composition and working methods of the sculptor’s workshop.