Bacon was the second son of the sculptor John Bacon and his wife Elizabeth Wade. He was born at his parents' home in Newman Street in the City of Westminster on 13 March 1777.[1] He entered the Royal Academy Schools at the age of twelve, one of the youngest pupils ever admitted.
At fifteen, Bacon exhibited his first work; at sixteen, he was awarded the silver medal of the Royal Academy; and in 1797 he won the gold medal for his statue of Cassandra. His brother Thomas Bacon also exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1793 and 1795. Their father died in 1799, and the younger John Bacon succeeded to his business. He finished such works as he found in progress, including the well-known statue of Lord Cornwallis, and managed to secure ample patronage for himself. He ceased to exhibit at the academy in 1824.
Building projects included the figure of Providence on Trinity House in 1796 and replacing the figures of "Madness" and "Melancholy" over the entrance to Bethlem Hospital (better known as Bedlam) in 1814.
From 1818 until 1843, Bacon worked in partnership with his former pupil Samuel Manning, but their work appears to be largely by Manning, taking advantage of Bacon's reputation but, in the view of the art historian Rupert Gunnis, lacking the quality of Bacon's work. Bacon himself went into virtual retirement from 1830.[1] He contributed articles on sculpture to Rees's Cyclopædia.
In 1801 he was married to Susanna Sophia Taylor (born 1782). He died in Bath, Somerset on 14 July 1859.
Monument to Edward Waldergrave, Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Navestock, EssexThe Flight of Aeneas from Troy by John Bacon the Younger, Foundling Museum, London
Monument to Edward Waldergrave, Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Navestock, Essex[20]
Monuments, featuring carved military trophies and symbols, to John Yorke, died 1798, and Martin Yorke, died 1805, in the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Speldhurst Hill, Kent[21]
Monument to Joseph Sykes, died 1805, Church of Saint Andrew, Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire[22]
Monument to Francis Heneage, died 1807, in the Church of Saint Mary, Hainton, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire[23]
Several monuments to members of the Langham family, who died between 1807 and 1812, in the Church of All Saints, Cottesbrooke, Northamptonshire[24]
The Flight of Aeneas from Troy, Foundling Museum, London (1839) panel over doorway
Tomb of his daughter aka Mrs Medley in St Thomas Church in Exeter (1842)
Wall memorial, with figure, to Rev. Thomas Robinson, Church of Saint Mary de Castro, Leicester Castle Yard[37]
A monument in the Church of Saint Mary, Churchgate, Stockport[38]
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London holds two memorials by Bacon from demolished churches;- a memorial to Anna Rhodes, 1764-1796, from the church of St. James's, Hampstead Road, London and a marble memorial plaque to Elizabeth Raynsford, 1722-1810, from the church of St. Denis at Faxton, Northants.[39]
^Diane Bilbey with Marjorie Trusted (2002). British Sculpture 1470 to 2000 A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. V&A Publications. ISBN1851773959.
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