Drawing

Hand drawn head and shoulders chalk sketch of a young man, possibly the dancer, instrumentalist, and equilibrist, Anthony Maddox (d.1758), ca.1755.

Dancer, instrumentalist, and equilibrist, Anthony Maddox (d.1758) first gained success when appearing at Sadler's Wells in 1751. His act necessitated a great deal of balance and dexterity as Maddox would play and instrument and balance full wine glasses, swords and other items both on the wire, and on his chin, all whilst balancing himself, on a narrow wire.

Maddox achieved success in both Britain and Ireland before being drowned on the 27th October 1758 when the ship upon which he was travelling was caught in a sudden storm.