John Flaxman by Musgrave Watson, University College London

Musgrave Lewthwaite Watson (24 January 1804 – 28 October 1847) was an English sculptor of the early 19th century.

Life

Nelson's Column - East Face Of Plinth Trafalgar Square - London - 240404

Watson was born on 24 January 1804 the son of Thomas Watson of the Bogs, Sebergham, a farm near

Carlisle Carlisle ( , ; from xcb, Caer Luel) is a city that lies within the Northern England, Northern English county of Cumbria, south of the Anglo-Scottish border, Scottish border at the confluence of the rivers River Eden, Cumbria, Eden, River C ...

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

, being christened on 8 March 1804 at Hawksdale, near

Dalston Dalston () is an area of East London, in the London Borough of Hackney. It is northeast of Charing Cross. Dalston began as a hamlet on either side of Dalston Lane, and as the area urbanised the term also came to apply to surrounding areas includ ...

. His father was a prosperous farmer, who also owned an iron-forge. Although he had artistic ambitions from an early age, at his parents' insistence he was articled to a solicitor in

in 1821. Following his fathers's death in 1823, he abandoned the legal profession and went to London to study sculpture. He took advice from

John Flaxman John Flaxman (6 July 1755 – 7 December 1826) was a British sculptor and draughtsman, and a leading figure in British and European Neoclassicism. Early in his career, he worked as a modeller for Josiah Wedgwood's pottery. He spent several yea ...

, and studied under Robert William Sevier and at 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 ...

. In 1825 he left for Rome. On his return in 1828 he was determined to set up as a sculptor on his own account, rather than work in another artist's studio. However financial difficulties forced him to seek employment with

Sir Francis Chantrey Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey (7 April 1781 – 25 November 1841) was an English sculptor. He became the leading portrait sculptor in Regency era Britain, producing busts and statues of many notable figures of the time. Chantrey's most notable w ...

. He argued with Chantrey and afterwards worked for

Richard Westmacott Sir Richard Westmacott (15 July 17751 September 1856) was a British sculptor. Life and career Westmacott studied with his father, also named Richard Westmacott (the elder), Richard Westmacott, at his studio in Mount Street, off Grosvenor ...

William Behnes William Behnes (1795 – 3 January 1864) was a British sculptor of the early 19th century. Life Born in London, Behnes was the son of a Hanoverian piano-maker and his English wife. His brother was Henry Behnes, also a sculptor, albeit an i ...

and

Edward Hodges Baily Edward Hodges Baily (10 March 1788 – 22 May 1867; sometimes misspelled ''Bailey'') was a prolific English sculptor responsible for numerous public monuments, portrait busts, statues and exhibition pieces as well as works in silver. He carved ...

. According to his biographer, Henry Lonsdale, he then spent two years at the Coade Artificial Stone Works in Lambeth, where he modelled sculptures and friezes for both private and public buildings. The work was well paid, but he decided to leave and set up his own studio once more. He fell into financial difficulties again, and in 1832 had his belongings distrained for rent. However, eventually circumstances improved: a stone frieze for Edward Moxhay's Hall of Commerce in

Threadneedle Street Threadneedle Street is a street in the City of London, England, between Bishopsgate at its northeast end and Bank junction in the southwest. It is one of nine streets that converge at Bank. It lies in the ward of Cornhill. History The stree ...

in the City of London, completed in 1842, brought him critical acclaim. Five and a half feet tall and seventy three feet long, it can now be seen in Napier Terrace,

Islington Islington () is a district in the north of Greater London, England, and part of the London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the ar ...

. In the same year he received a lucrative commission from Lord Eldon for a marble double portrait of his grandfather, the first

Lord Eldon Earl of Eldon, in the County Palatine of Durham, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1821 for the lawyer and politician John Scott, 1st Baron Eldon, Lord Chancellor from 1801 to 1806 and again from 1807 to 1827. ...

, and his great-uncle,

Baron Stowell Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knigh ...

. The commission had originally been given to Sir Francis Chantrey, who died before it could be carried out. In 1839 Watson submitted designs to both competitions held by the Nelson Memorial Committee for a monument to be erected in

Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square ( ) is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, laid out in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. At its centre is a high column bearing a statue of Admiral Nelson commemo ...

. He was unsuccessful, but was later chosen to sculpt the relief panel of the Battle of Cape St. Vincent on the pedestal of the winning entry,

William Railton William Railton (1800–77) was an English architect, best known as the designer of Nelson's Column. He was based in London, with offices at 12 Regent Street for much of his career. Life He was born in Clapham (then in Surrey) on 14 May 1800, ...

Nelson's Column Nelson's Column is a monument in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, Central London, built to commemorate Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson's decisive victory at the Battle of Trafalgar over the combined French and Spanish navies, during whic ...

. He was, however, unhappy with the terms of the commission, writing in a letter " I think the world will be disappointed with the relievi. The subjects are unfit for sculpture, or at least unfavourable." Watson died before the Cape St Vincent relief could be finished, having suffered from a persistent heart condition for most of his adult life. He also left the Eldon sculpture and a statue of John Flaxman to be completed by others. Just before his death he had most of the models in his studio destroyed. he died of heart disease on the 28th October 1847 at his home at 13 Upper Gloucester Place in London. He was buried on the western side of

Highgate Cemetery Highgate Cemetery is a place of burial in north London, England. There are approximately 170,000 people buried in around 53,000 graves across the West and East Cemeteries. Highgate Cemetery is notable both for some of the people buried there as ...

. The grave (no.2444) has no headstone or marker.

Recognition

A memorial to Musgrave Watson was erected in

Carlisle Cathedral Carlisle Cathedral is a grade-I listed Anglican cathedral in the city of Carlisle, Cumbria, England. It was founded as an Augustinian priory and became a cathedral in 1133. It is also the seat of the Bishop of Carlisle.Tim Tatton-Brown and John ...

Family

He lived with a young woman, the daughter of a publican in Carlisle, but never married her. It is unclear if he had children.Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis p.415

Works

*Double portrait of brothers

and

Lord Stowell William Scott, 1st Baron Stowell (17 October 174528 January 1836) was an English judge and jurist. He served as Judge of the High Court of Admiralty from 1798 to 1828. Background and education Scott was born at Heworth, a village about four m ...

University College, Oxford University College (in full The College of the Great Hall of the University of Oxford, colloquially referred to as "Univ") is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. It has a claim to being the oldest college of the univer ...

(1842). *Statue of

Queen Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is sometimes referred to as the "Virgin Queen". El ...

for the

Royal Exchange, London The Royal Exchange in London was founded in the 16th century by the merchant Sir Thomas Gresham on the suggestion of his factor Richard Clough to act as a centre of commerce for the City of London. The site was provided by the City of London Cor ...

(1844). *Marble statues of Major

Francis Aglionby Major (United Kingdom), Maj. Francis Aglionby (born Yates; 12 May 1777 – 1 July 1840) was an English Whig (British political party), Whig politician.''Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900'' Aglionby was born at Skirwith Abbey, Cumberland, th ...

, MP for East Cumberland, (1843) and

Lord Lonsdale Earl of Lonsdale is a title that has been created twice in British history, firstly in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1784 (becoming extinct in 1802), and then in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1807, both times for members of the Low ...

(1845) in

. *Statue of

for

University College London , mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £143 million (2020) , budget = ...

(1847). *Pedimental sculpture for the Victoria Rooms in

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

. *Frieze from Moxhall's Hall of Commerce in the

City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London fr ...

; Installed in Napier Terrace

in 1975.

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Musgrave 1804 births 1847 deaths Burials at Highgate Cemetery English sculptors English male sculptors People from Dalston, Cumbria 19th-century British sculptors