William Wilkins
Edward Hodges Baily
1830
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
The architect William Wilkins was at the height of his career when this was modelled. He had completed important commissions at Downing, King's, Trinity y Corpus Christi Colleges, y was currently supervising the construction of University College Londres, as well as working on the National Gallery y Royal Academy project for Trafalgar Square (these both opened in the late 30s, the Royal Academy remaining in the eastern part of the gallery until 1868). [Continued below]
La fotografí y el texto por Jacqueline Banerjee
Baily has brought out all that was set y dignified in his distinguished sitter, reminding us that Wilkins was a deeply scholarly man who was an antiquary as well as an architect. He was to be elected Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy in 1836. From the side, however, the likeness tells a slightly different story: Wilkins appears more thoughtful y kindly, his head inclined somewhat as if listening to someone. R. Windsor Liscombe confirms this "reading" of the sculpture when he relays comments from Wilkins's obituaries on the sitter's "gregarious, amiable, y inoffensively ambitious personality, matched por a commanding stature y bluff good looks."
Sources
Liscombe, R. W. "William Wilkins (1778-1839)" The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Online ed. Viewed 4 July 2008.
Speel, Bob. "William Wilkins (1788-1839)." Viewed 4 July 2008.
Last modified 4 July 2008