Thomas Campbell (sculptor)

Thomas Campbell (1 May 1790 – 4 February 1858) was a Scottish sculptor in the early 19th century. He has several important public works, most notably a statue of Sarah Siddons in Westminster Abbey. He also has several works in the National Gallery in London. He was heavily patronised by the British aristocracy, as evidenced by his works.[1]

Sir John Hope statue at Dundas House
Statue in Cavendish Square, London
Sir Henry Raeburn by Thomas Campbell
The Young Ascanius by Thomas Campbell 1822
Bust of Robert Blair by Thomas Campbell, 1815, Old College, University of Edinburgh

Life

He was born in Tolbooth parish, Edinburgh Old Town, now part of the Royal Mile. He was the son of Douglas Campbell, "gentleman servant", and Helen Thorburn.[2]

He was apprenticed to John Marshall, marble cutter on Leith Walk. During his apprenticeship he befriended James Locke, later to be credited with the naming Tweed.[3] Whilst at Marshall's, over three years, he sculpted two figures for the facade of the Royal Bank of Scotland,[3] which around 1817 attracted the patronage of Gilbert Innes of Stow, depute governor of the Bank. He paid for Campbell to study at the Royal Academy Schools in London from 1818, and also permitted him to set up a studio in Rome, Italy in 1819, where a connection continued until 1830. In Rome he met with both Antonio Canova and Bertel Thorvaldsen.[4]

In London he studied under Joseph Nollekens and assisted Edward Hodges Baily. He was briefly assisted in Rome and London by his much younger and short-lived brother, James Campbell (1810–1833).[2]

His London studio was originally at 28 Leicester Square.[5] From 1833 to 1857 his studio was at 15/16 Great Marlborough Street, London. He died unmarried at 1 Great Castle Street in London. He is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in London.

Principal works

Notes and references
  1. "Thomas Campbell (1790–1858)". The Victorian Web. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  2. "Thomas Campbell - Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951".
  3. Locke, James (1860). Tweed and Don. Edinburgh: William P Nimmo. p. 6. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  4. Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660–1851, Gunnis (online database)
  5. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Thomas Campbell
  6. Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford McWilliam and Walker
  7. "Thomas Campbell from The Gazetteer for Scotland".
  8. "Sculpture Trail" (PDF). Aberdeen City Council. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  9. "Sarah Siddons". Westminster Abbey. Retrieved 20 November 2022.

Bibliography
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas Campbell (sculptor).

32 artworks by or after Thomas Campbell at the Art UK site

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