Overview

Hidden Treasures The Bas-Reliefs on the Kemp Town Estate illustrates, for the very first time, the 40 plaster bas reliefs, hitherto unidentified and unrecorded, which were thought to have been installed by Thomas Cubitt in the houses he built on the Estate between 1823 - 1850. 20 of these sculptures were designed by world famous Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1834), the 'Master of the Bas Relief ' , forming an important hitherto unknown Collection of his work in this country.  Situated in 20 different houses, some with multiple freeholders, the Collection is thus owned by a large number of people most of whom have never met each other and have no idea of the importance of what is on their walls ! Identical examples in plaster and marble originally commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte, Prince Albert and the Duke of Devonshire can be found at both Osborne House and Chatsworth and indeed in many large houses and museums in this and other countries. Two marble originals, commissioned by Thomas Read Kemp's brother-in-law, Alexander Baring, were sold at Sotheby's in June 2019 for £312,500. Hidden Treasures is profusely illustrated with photographs accompanied by the known provenance of each work. Maps and charts show clearly in which houses the bas reliefs are installed.

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9781803811802

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Vanessa Minns, costume designer, educationalist and graphic designer lives on the Kemp Town Estate. Her interest in and love of history led her to the inauguration and development of the website kemptownestatehistories . Initial rather casual research on what were known vaguely as 'the Cubitt Plaques' for the website, fast became all consuming as more and more extraordinary information was unearthed. Hidden Treasures is Vanessa's first and only book ! She is delighted that a copy will be stored in the Keep, the Sussex Archive.

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