John Watson Walter Taylor
Bust
1816 (dated)
1816 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bust is a representation of John Walter Watson Taylor (dates unknown) as a boy, made by John Gibson in 1816. Gibson recorded that he was introduced by Mr Christie to Mr Watson Taylor, initially executing a bust of him and later his wife, his first commission after leaving Liverpool: 'Then I had commissions from them for all the children in turn, ending with the baby- a little thing with no shape at all.'
This bust and those of four other Watson Taylor children formed part of the Watson Taylor Collection, Erlestoke Park, Devizes, Wilts.
Gibson (1790-1866) was apprenticed to Messrs Franceys, the Liverpool firm of statuaries and later removed to Rome where he received instruction from Canova and Thorwaldsen. Elected A.R.A in 1833 and RA in 1838. He became the leading English sculptor of his generation working in the neo-classical style and was famous for such works as the Tinted Venus, Pandora, Mars and Cupid and Psyche and Zephers. He also executed public statues and busts. He bequeathed his property on his death to the Royal Academy. Gibson spent most of his career in Rome.
This bust and those of four other Watson Taylor children formed part of the Watson Taylor Collection, Erlestoke Park, Devizes, Wilts.
Gibson (1790-1866) was apprenticed to Messrs Franceys, the Liverpool firm of statuaries and later removed to Rome where he received instruction from Canova and Thorwaldsen. Elected A.R.A in 1833 and RA in 1838. He became the leading English sculptor of his generation working in the neo-classical style and was famous for such works as the Tinted Venus, Pandora, Mars and Cupid and Psyche and Zephers. He also executed public statues and busts. He bequeathed his property on his death to the Royal Academy. Gibson spent most of his career in Rome.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | John Watson Walter Taylor (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Marble |
| Brief description | Bust, marble, of John Walter Watson Taylor, by John Gibson, England, 1816 |
| Physical description | The undraped bust on a turned stand represents a small boy, perhaps three or four years old. Inscribed on the back. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'I. GIBSON Ft. 1816 / JOHN WALTER /
WATSON TAYLOR' (on the back) |
| Object history | This bust, together with those of four additional Watson Taylor children and the father and mother was sold from the Watson Taylor collection at Erlestoke Park, near Devizes, Wilts, by Mr George Robins on July 9th to August 1st, 1832 , page 168, Lot. 182. All the busts are described as by Gibson, except that of Emilius, dated 1824, which was by Edward Hodges Baily. Bought by the Museum for £350 from L. Lipman, Esq., 30 Robin Hood Road, Brentwood, Essex. |
| Historical context | In 1817 Gibson exhibited at the Royal Academy busts of Master S.W.Taylor and Master J.W.W.Taylor. A bust of Mrs Watson Taylor was exhibited in 1819. According to his own account, Gibson was commissioned in 1817 to portray all the Watson Taylor children, after having first sculpted the father and mother. However in view of the date on the bust, the year 1817 mentioned by Gibson must be a mistake. The Watson Taylor busts were executed on the occasion of Gibson's first visit to London from Liverpool and before he had travelled to Rome. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This bust is a representation of John Walter Watson Taylor (dates unknown) as a boy, made by John Gibson in 1816. Gibson recorded that he was introduced by Mr Christie to Mr Watson Taylor, initially executing a bust of him and later his wife, his first commission after leaving Liverpool: 'Then I had commissions from them for all the children in turn, ending with the baby- a little thing with no shape at all.' This bust and those of four other Watson Taylor children formed part of the Watson Taylor Collection, Erlestoke Park, Devizes, Wilts. Gibson (1790-1866) was apprenticed to Messrs Franceys, the Liverpool firm of statuaries and later removed to Rome where he received instruction from Canova and Thorwaldsen. Elected A.R.A in 1833 and RA in 1838. He became the leading English sculptor of his generation working in the neo-classical style and was famous for such works as the Tinted Venus, Pandora, Mars and Cupid and Psyche and Zephers. He also executed public statues and busts. He bequeathed his property on his death to the Royal Academy. Gibson spent most of his career in Rome. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.211-1969 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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