William James Maxwell (ca.1843 – 20 July 1903) was a sculptor born in Scotland who produced several important works in Australia.

History

Maxwell was the son of builder Francis Maxwell and his wife Jane Young Maxwell in Largs,

Ayrshire Ayrshire ( gd, Siorrachd Inbhir Àir, ) is a historic county and registration county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine and it borders the counties of Re ...

, Scotland, where he received an education. After fifteen years living in Glasgow and London he emigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in 1875, and subsequently to Adelaide, South Australia. He returned to England, expecting to re-settle there but, finding the weather oppressive, returned to Adelaide around 1890. Maxwell was a member of

H. P. Gill Harry Pelling Gill (9 March 1855 – 25 May 1916), commonly referred to as H. P. Gill or Harry P. Gill, was an English-born Australian art curator, teacher and painter, who lived in Adelaide, South Australia for much of his life. Background Gi ...

's exclusive but short-lived

Adelaide Art Circle The Adelaide Art Circle was an association of artists in Adelaide, South Australia, founded by H. P. Gill. The club was founded early in 1890, with Gill as president and G. A. Reynolds as hon. secretary. According to the rules as laid down by Gil ...

1891–1892. He must have had some talents as an entertainer, as most meetings ended with him giving some kind of rendition. He had a home at Kent Town for some time, then built a magnificent residence, "Woodlands", Edwardstown, where he died.

Selected works

*1883 panel and other work for

Clayton Congregational Church Clayton Wesley Uniting Church, formerly Clayton Congregational Church, is a church building in the Adelaide suburb of Beulah Park (historically located in Kensington), located on Portrush Road, in a commanding position at the eastern end of The ...

, Kensington, South Australia. *1884 statue of St. Patrick, altars, font and other work for St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney. *1894 statue of Robert Burns on North Terrace, Adelaide. *"Industry" on the Savings Bank Building in Currie Street, Adelaide. *Half-size model for a statue of

John McDouall Stuart John McDouall Stuart (7 September 18155 June 1866), often referred to as simply "McDouall Stuart", was a Scottish explorer and one of the most accomplished of all Australia's inland explorers. Stuart led the first successful expedition to tra ...

, which may have influenced James White in his work, unveiled in 1901. He was to have produced the full-size statue, but died before the marble ordered from London arrived. *(unspecified) work for the new Parliament buildings and Bank of South Australia, Australian Mutual and E.,S.,& A. Bank, and in Melbourne the E.& S. Bank and Post Office.

Family

He married Isabella Strachan (1844? 1845? – 28 February 1914); their children included: *Francis William Maxwell (1869–1947) married Edith Alice Humphris of Yongala, South Australia, on 21 April 1897. He was Assistant Engineer of Railways in Western Australia. *John Strachan Maxwell (draftsman in the South Australian Railways) married Amy Coveny of Sydney on 2 March 1908 *William Maxwell (1882–1951) lived in Western Australia. *Margaret Innes "Ina" Maxwell (1870–1962) married Charles Henry Reeves on 28 September 1888, lived at Mount Barker. *Jane Young "Janie" Maxwell (1873–1963) married Christopher H. Ragless on 15 October 1897, lived on South Road. *Susan "Susie" Maxwell (4 February 1885 – 1967) married Leslie H. H. Shepley, lived in Kadina, South Australia *Helen Maxwell (6 February 1887 – 1964) married Leslie Hall Wright on 6 June 1914 *Isabella Maxwell (6 February 1887 – 1978) twin sister They had a home at College Road, Kent Town, then "Woodlands", in Edwardstown, South Australia. He had a sister, Mrs. George Finnister of Adelaide.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maxwell, William James 1840s births 1903 deaths 19th-century Australian sculptors British emigrants to Australia