Peter Slater
RA (1809–1860) was a 19th-century Scottish sculptor and portrait artist. His name sometimes appears as J. P. Slater.
Life
He was born in
Edinburgh the son of John Slater (d.1816), marble-cutter on Picardy Place at the top of
Leith Walk.
He entered the Edinburgh sculpture studio of
Samuel Joseph in 1823 as an apprentice. In 1829 he moved with Joseph to
London where he stayed for four years, being admitted into the Royal Academy in 1831, apparently on the recommendation of
Wilkie Collins.
In 1833 he returned to
Edinburgh, largely living in the eastern New Town. He exhibited in both the Royal Academy (1846–1870) and
Royal Scottish Academy
The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) is the country’s national academy of art. It promotes contemporary Scottish art.
The Academy was founded in 1826 by eleven artists meeting in Edinburgh. Originally named the Scottish Academy, it became the ...
(1833–1865).
His most noteworthy works are the figures of
George Heriot (depicted holding a model of
George Heriot’s School
George Heriot's School is a Scottish independent primary and secondary day school on Lauriston Place in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. In the early 21st century, it has more than 1600 pupils, 155 teaching staff, and 80 non-teaching staf ...
) and The Lady of the Lake, both on the
Scott Monument in
Princes Street
Princes Street ( gd, Sràid nam Prionnsan) is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland and the main shopping street in the capital. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1.2 km (three ...
.
He returned to live in London in 1860.
Known works
*Bust of
Sir James Forrest,
Lord Provost of Edinburgh, New College, Edinburgh (1843)
[http://orapweb.rcahms.gov.uk/wp/00/WP000421.pdf ]
*Bust of
Prof George Dunbar,
Old College, University of Edinburgh (1851)
*Bust of Prof
James Pillans,
Old College, University of Edinburgh (1852)
*Portrait of Robert Slater (believed to be his brother), exhibited at the Royal Academy (1859)
*Statue of
James Watt
James Watt (; 30 January 1736 (19 January 1736 OS) – 25 August 1819) was a Scottish inventor, mechanical engineer, and chemist who improved on Thomas Newcomen's 1712 Newcomen steam engine with his Watt steam engine in 1776, which was fun ...
(based on the statue by
Francis Chantrey), first on Adam Square, Edinburgh, moved to the front of
Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University ( gd, Oilthigh Heriot-Watt) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, the world's first mechanics' institute, and subsequently granted univ ...
on Chambers Street and moved again to sit on campus at
Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University ( gd, Oilthigh Heriot-Watt) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, the world's first mechanics' institute, and subsequently granted univ ...
west of the city.
*Monument to Dr Carson,
St Giles Cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral ( gd, Cathair-eaglais Naomh Giles), or the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh. The current building was begun in the 14th century and extended ...
*Figures of
George Heriot (south-west buttress) and "
The Lady of the Lake" (central figure on south side) on the
Scott Monument, Edinburgh
References
*http://217.204.55.158/henrymoore/sculptor/browserecord.php?-action=browse&-recid=2465
*http://sites.scran.ac.uk/scottmon/pages/hisnovels/statues/george_heriot.htm
{{DEFAULTSORT:Slater, Peter
1809 births
1860 deaths
Scottish sculptors
Scottish male sculptors
19th-century British sculptors