Biography
Born in Cardiff, son of a woodcarver. Studied with his father at Cardiff Castle under the direction of architect William Burges. In 1882, came to London as assistant in Thomas Nicholl's Lambeth workshop. Studied at Lambeth School of Art; then went on to R. A . Schools and won Gold Medal and Travelling Scholarship in 1889. Worked under Rodin in Paris, 1890-91 and received honourable mention at Paris Salon, 1892, and Gold Medal, 1901.
Works include: figures and groups with a wide range of subject -- realistic, poetic and religious; also monuments, eg.: equestrian figure of Edward VII in Liverpool; Viscount Wolseley, Horse Guards Parade; and Prince Christian Victor at Windsor. Memorials: Sir Arthur Sullivan in St. Paul's, 1902, and Marquess of Winchester, 1905.
A.R.A. 1899, R.A. 1909, Knighted 1911, Hon. A.R.I B A. [British Sculpture 1850-1914, p. 26.]
Literary, Mythological, and Religious Subjects
- The Glamour of the Rose
- The Glamour of the Rose (2)
- Hermes
- Orpheus
- Grief
- St. John the Baptist
- The Maid So Young (Childhood)
- The Elf
- Reredos, St John the Baptist, Cardiff
- Egypt, Japan, India, China
- Hermes
- Merlin and Arthur
- Morpheus
- Orpheus
- Guardian Angel
- Dewi Sant (St David), Cardiff City Hall
Monuments and Portraits
- Edward VII (equestrian statue, Liverpool)
- Edward VII (façade, Victoria & Albert Museum)
- George V and Queen Mary
- King's Liverpool Regiment Memorial
- Mrs. Herbert Cory
- William Edward Hartpole Lecky, M.P
- Memorial to the Engine Room Heroes
- The Defence of the Home
- The Tombs of Lord and Lady Leverhulme
- James Rice Buckley
- The Arthur Sullivan Memorial
- Judge Gwilym Williams
- John Cory
- Queen Alexandra
- Two panels from Victoria Memorial, Calcutta, India
- Monument to Sir Patrick Playfair
- The Response (or the Renwick Monument)
- Memorial Relief to the late Canon Guy, D.D.
- The late Duke of Devonshire, K. G.
- The Late Dean Vaughan
- Thomas Henry Thomas (1834-1915)
- A Maid so Young
- Thirteen (Muriel)
- Lord Glanley of St. Fagans
- R.G. Hill-Snook, JP, Lord Mayor of Cardiff
- Sir William Reardom Smith
- David Howell Memorial
- Eva Roos Vedder
- Joyance
- Thomas Charles Edwards, DD
- Bernhard Steinhart
- John Viriamu Jones, FRS
- Alfred Thomas, 1st Lord Pontypridd
- Basil Webb Memorial, Hereford Cathedral
- Col E.M. Bruce Vaughan
Miscellaneous
Medals
Materials not illustrated
- A Girl Binding Her Hair ("a large nude figure" — The Studio
- Morpheus
- Drinking horn with dragon stand illustrated in the 1898 Academy Architecture and Architectural Review)
Bibliography
Beattie, Susan. The New Sculpture. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1983.
British Sculpture 1850-1914. A loan exhibition of sculpture and medals sponsored by The Victorian Society. London: Fine Art Society, 1968.
Gibson to Gilbert: British Sculpture 1840-1914. Exhibition catalogue. London: The Fine Art Society, 1992.
Baldry, A. L. "A New Associate of the Royal Academy: W. Goscombe John." The Studio. 18 (1899): 115-20.
Last modified 7 November 2019