James Smith (1775–1815) was an early 18th century English sculptor.
Life
Smith lived in the
Marylebone district of London. He was the son of James Smith, also a sculptor or stonemason.
He trained under the
London-based Italian sculptor
Locatelli
Locatelli is a Lombard surname.
Geographical distribution
As of 2014, 66.7% of all known bearers of the surname ''Locatelli'' were residents of Italy (frequency 1:1,705), 15.9% of Brazil (1:24,007), 9.5% of France (1:13,015), 2.7% of Argentina (1: ...
from 1789 to around 1794. From 1795 he attended the
Royal Academy Schools. In 1797 he won their Gold Medal for "Venus Wounded by
Diomede". After training he joined the studio of
John Charles Felix Rossi.
After 1805 he became assistant to
John Flaxman. He also assisted
Mrs Damer on several works.
In 1810 he was commissioned by the Common Council of Aldermen to create a
cenotaph to
Admiral Nelson for the
Guildhall, London
Guildhall is a municipal building in the Moorgate area of the City of London, England. It is off Gresham and Basinghall streets, in the wards of Bassishaw and Cheap. The building has been used as a town hall for several hundred years, and is ...
. This marble monument cost £4442 (£360,000 in 2021) and was won in competition against his mentor
Charles Rossi
John Charles Felix Rossi (8 March 1762 – 21 February 1839), often simply known as Charles Rossi, was an English sculptor.
Life
Early life and education
Rossi was born on 8 March 1762 at Nottingham, where his father Ananso, an Italian from Si ...
and against the recommendation of the
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...
. The Aldermen however were very slow in paying his bill.
He died in London on 28 April 1815.
Family
He was father to
Charles Raymond Smith who was also a sculptor, creating the infamous tomb of
Grace Darling in
Bamburgh churchyard. He may have also had a second son, Thomas Smith.
Known works
*Monument to
Lord Mansfield,
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grad ...
(while at the studio of Flaxman)
*Memorial to Lt Col
George Augustus Frederick Lake
The Honourable George Augustus Frederick Lake (1781-1808) was a British Army Commanding Infantry Officer who Commanded His Majesty's 29th Regiment of Foot during the early stages Peninsular War.
George Lake's family were well-connected at cou ...
(1808) in
Westminster Abbey
*Tomb of
Caroline Shuckburgh (1809) in
Shuckburgh Parish Church
*Monument to
Horatio Nelson
Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics brought abo ...
(1810) Guildhall
*Bust of
Sarah Siddons (1813),
Green Room at
Drury Lane Theatre
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dru ...
*Bust of
Sarah Siddons (1814) at
Guy's Cliff,
Warwick
*Bust of
Robert Southey (1814) displayed at Royal Academy
*Tomb of
Thomas Barwis (1815) in
Wandsworth Parish Church
*Monument to General
John le Marchant (1816) in
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grad ...
completed by Smith's son
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, James
1775 births
1815 deaths
People from Marylebone
British sculptors