Catherine Andras (1775–1860) was an English sculptor best known for her wax models. She was active as an artist until 1855 and died in London in 1860.

Life

Andras was born in Bristol and started creating wax models while working in a toy shop. Orphaned at an early age, she was later adopted by miniature painter, Robert Bowyer, and his wife in 1799. She moved to London and worked at the Historical Gallery, 87 Pall Mall, before moving to Great Titchfield Street. She later returned to Pall Mall.

Wax modelling work

Andras exhibited in London at the

Royal Academy of Arts The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...

from 1799 to 1824. In 1802 was appointed Modeller in Wax to

Queen Charlotte Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Sophia Charlotte; 19 May 1744 – 17 November 1818) was Queen of Great Britain and Ireland as the wife of King George III from their marriage on 8 September 1761 until her death in 1818. The Acts of Un ...

. She was awarded 'The Larger Silver Pallet' by the

Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce The Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, founded in 1754, was the precursor of The ''Royal'' Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce now more usually known as the RSA. The original Society gaine ...

for her model of Princess Charlotte and a portrait of

Lord Nelson Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte ( – 21 October 1805) was a Royal Navy officer whose leadership, grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics brought about a number of decisive British naval victories during the French ...

. After Lord Nelson's death, with crowds of people visiting St. Paul's cathedral to visit his tomb,

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...

commissioned Andras to create a wax effigy for the church in an attempt to attract the crowds. Works by Andras are also displayed in the

British Museum The British Museum is a Museum, public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world. It documents the story of human cu ...

, the

National Gallery of Ireland The National Gallery of Ireland () houses the national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin with one entrance on Merrion Square, beside Leinster House, and another on Clare Street, Dublin, Clare Street. It ...

and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Selected artworks

Catherine andras, rose bruce, vedova del reverendo samuel bruce, 1799, in cera.jpg, ''Rose Bruce (1728-1806), Widow of Revd Samuel Bruce'' (1799) in the National Gallery of Ireland George III (1738–1820), King of England (1760–1820) MET DP-13721-047.jpg, ''George III (1738–1820), King of England (1760–1820)'' in The Glenn Tilley Morse Collection, Bequest of Glenn Tilley Morse, 1950, Metropolitan Museum of Art

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Andras, Catherine 1775 births 1860 deaths 19th-century English sculptors 19th-century English women artists Artists from Bristol English women sculptors