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 Robert Bowyer (; bap. 18 June 1758 – 4 June 1834) was a British miniature painter and publisher. Bowyer was born in Portsmouth to Amos and Betty Ann Bowyer and baptized on 18 June 1758. His first job was as a clerk to a merchant in Portsmouth ...

, 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 on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its purp ...

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 of Ireland as the wife of King George III from their marriage on 8 September 1761 until the union of the two kingdoms ...

. 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 Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics brought ab ...

. 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 historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United ...

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 public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docume ...

, the

National Gallery of Ireland The National Gallery of Ireland ( ga, Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann) 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 o ...

and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Selected artworks

''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)'' 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