Samuel Joseph (sculptor)

Samuel Joseph RSA (1791–1 July 1850) was a British sculptor, working in the early 19th century.

William Trotter of Ballandean by Samuel Joseph
Statue of William Wilberforce by Samuel Joseph, in Westminster Abbey
Sir David Wilkie by Samuel Joseph, 1842

Life

Very little is known about Joseph's early life.[1]

He was a pupil of Peter Rouw, and attended the Royal Academy Schools in 1811, gaining the silver medal there in both 1811 and 1812. In 1815 he won the gold medal for "Eve Supplicating Forgiveness". In 1823 he went to Edinburgh, becoming a founding member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1826. During this time he taught Alexander Handyside Ritchie.

He left Edinburgh in 1829 to set up a bigger and more prestigious studio in London.[2]

His most famous and noted work is the statue of William Wilberforce in Westminster Abbey, created in 1838. A plaster copy of it also exists in St John's College, Cambridge. He exhibited in the Royal Academy from 1811 to 1846, and the Royal Scottish Academy from 1827 to 1835. He was declared bankrupt in 1848 and forced to sell most of his belongings.

He died in London on 1 July 1850, leaving seven children.[1] The Royal Academy granted a pension to his widow, which continued until her death, 13 years later. A wax portrait of Samuel Joseph by T. Smith was exhibited in 1828 at the Royal Academy.

He is known to have trained the Edinburgh sculptor Peter Slater.[3]

Principal Works

References
  1. Friedman, Terry. "Joseph, Samuel (1790/91–1850), sculptor". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/15133. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. A Biographical Dictionary of Sculptors of Britain: Peter Slater
  3. "The Character Statues".

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