John Francis (sculptor)

John Francis (3 September 1780 – 30 August 1861) was an English sculptor.

Life

Francis was born in Lincolnshire, and was intended to go into farming. He settled in London, where he became a pupil of Samuel Joseph and Francis Leggatt Chantrey.[1] He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1820 a bust of Thomas William Coke, and another of Captain Sir W. Bolton, R.N. At this period his residence was at Thornham, Norfolk. In 1822, when he sent to the Academy a bust of Horatia Nelson, he was living at 2 New Norfolk Street, Park Lane.

In 1844 he executed by command of Queen Victoria a marble bust of Albert, Prince Consort; this followed a commission a few years earlier for a bust of the Queen, which went to the hall of the Reform Club. About this period Francis moved to 56 Albany Street, Regent's Park.

He taught his daughter Mary,[2] who married his pupil Thomas Thornycroft. Other pupils included Joseph Durham and Matthew Noble.[1]

Francis died at his home in Albany Street, aged 80.[1]

Works

Among his other works were:

  • posthumous bus of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1844);
  • busts of the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk (1844);
  • bust in bronze of the Duke of Sussex (1847);
  • marble bust of Lord John Russell, which went to the National Portrait Gallery (1848);
  • a bronze medal of Eos, a favourite greyhound of Prince Albert (1848);
  • marble bust of the Hon. Edward Petre (1848);
  • four busts, in marble, of various members of the Eaton family (1851);
  • posthumous bust of the Earl of Carlisle (1852);
  • bust of the Duke of Wellington, which went to the National Portrait Gallery (1852);
  • posthumous bust of the Hon. and Rev. James Norton (1854);
  • bust of Vice-admiral Sir Charles Napier (1855);
  • cabinet bust of the Right Hon. Earl of Aberdeen (1856).

References
  • "Francis, John (1780-1861)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Notes
  1. Mapping the Profession page.
  2. Lee, Sidney, ed. (1898). "Thornycroft, Mary" . Dictionary of National Biography. 56. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Francis, John (1780-1861)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

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