Joseph Edwards (5 March 1814 – 9 January 1882) was a Welsh
sculptor
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...
. His work appears in many churches and cemeteries in England and Wales, in
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 ...
, and in the old town hall of
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil () is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after Tydfil, daughter of K ...
. Seventy of his works were exhibited 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 ...
between 1838 and 1878.
Background
Joseph Edwards was born on 5 March 1814 in
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil () is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after Tydfil, daughter of K ...
,
Glamorganshire
Glamorgan (), or sometimes Glamorganshire ( or ), was one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It is located in the south of Wales. Originally an early medieval petty kingdom of varying bo ...
, Wales, the son of a stonemason, and went to school in Merthyr. At the age of seventeen he saw the collection of stone
Celtic cross
upright 0.75 , A Celtic cross symbol
The Celtic cross is a form of ringed cross, a Christian cross featuring a nimbus or ring, that emerged in the British Isles and Western Europe in the Early Middle Ages. It became widespread through its u ...
es at
Margam Abbey
Margam Abbey () was a Cistercian monastery, located in the village of Margam, a suburb of modern Port Talbot in Wales.
History
The abbey was founded in 1147 as a daughter house of Clairvaux by Robert, Earl of Gloucester, and was dedicated to ...
and decided to become a sculptor. Apprenticed to a memorial mason in
Swansea
Swansea ( ; ) is a coastal City status in the United Kingdom, city and the List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, second-largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of ...
, he was quickly promoted to foreman. In 1835, he went to London where he began working for
William Behnes.
Sculpture
In 1837, Edwards became a student 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 ...
where he won several prizes for his work. His early works include a memorial to Sir
John Bernard Bosanquet. Another memorial monument, entitled "Religion", was shown at an international exhibition in 1862.
A version of this monument appears on the grave of Eliza Vaughan in
Highgate (Western) Cemetery, London. Edward's work can be seen in churches throughout England and Wales. He made busts of many contemporary figures including
Taliesin ap Iolo,
Thomas Stephens (
c. 1871),
G. T. Clark,
William Williams (
M.P. for
Coventry
Coventry ( or rarely ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands county, in England, on the River Sherbourne. Coventry had been a large settlement for centurie ...
),
Edith Wynne, and
George Virtue, and members of the Beaufort, Guest, Raglan, and Crawshay families.
Commenting on Edwards' bust of
Thomas Stephens, ''
The Art Journal
''The Art Journal'' was the most important British 19th-century magazine on art. It was founded in 1839 by Hodgson & Graves, print publishers, 6 Pall Mall, with the title ''Art Union Monthly Journal'' (or ''The Art Union''), the first issue of 7 ...
'' said, "
he Welshmay well be proud of their countryman, Joseph Edwards. There are artists who will make as good busts, but there is no living sculptor who can produce monumental work so pure, so refined, so essentially holy."
By 1881 he seems to have fallen on hard times as he was living as a
lodger in Robert Street, west of
Euston Station
Euston railway station ( ; or London Euston) is a major London station group, central London railway terminus and Euston tube station, connected London Underground station managed by Network Rail in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sout ...
and that year, sponsored by
George Frederic Watts
George Frederic Watts (23 February 1817 – 1 July 1904) was a British painter and sculptor associated with the Symbolism (arts), Symbolist movement. Watts became famous in his lifetime for his allegorical works, such as ''Hope (Watts), Hop ...
, Edwards was awarded a pension under the
Turner Bequest, but he died shortly after receiving it.
Death
Edwards died on 9 January 1882 in London and was buried in
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a place of burial in North London, England, designed by architect Stephen Geary. There are approximately 170,000 people buried in around 53,000 graves across the West and East sides. Highgate Cemetery is notable both for so ...
.
Works
* ''The Last Dream'' (1851)
*''Daughter of the Dawn'' (1851)
*Medallion of a lady (1851)
*''Religion Consoling Justice,'' (memorial to Sir John Bernard Bosanquet at
Dingestow
Dingestow (pronounced , ) is a small village in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located south-west of Monmouth and approximately the same distance north-east of Raglan, Monmouthshire, Raglan in rural Monmouthshire. The River Trothy passes through ...
Church,
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South East Wales, south east of Wales. It borders Powys to the north; the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to the north and east; the Severn Estuary to the s ...
)
* Memorial monument ''Religion'' (1862, Cefn cemetery near Merthyr; replica at Highgate cemetery)
*''The Vision''
*''The Weary Reassured''
*''Self Knowledge''
*''The High Priest of Science''
*''Hope''
*''The Adoration of the Spirit Ascending''
* ''Philosophy''
*Grave of
George Virtue (1870)
* ''The Spirit of Love and Truth''
* Monuments in many churches and cemeteries in Wales,
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 ...
, Merthyr Tydfil old town hall
* Busts of members of the Beaufort, Guest, Raglan, and Crawshay families
* Busts of well-known Welsh people including Taliesin ap Iolo, Thomas Stephens (), G. T. Clark, William Williams (M.P. for Coventry), Edith Wynne, and George Virtue
* The
Cymmrodorion Medal (1880)
*Medallion of J. Ewing Ritchie, Esq.
*Monument to William Hawkins and Mary, his Wife
*Figure of "Religion" on the grave of Mrs Vaughn in
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a place of burial in North London, England, designed by architect Stephen Geary. There are approximately 170,000 people buried in around 53,000 graves across the West and East sides. Highgate Cemetery is notable both for so ...
(1866)
Seventy of Edwards' works were exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts from 1838 to 1878.
(Sources: Ellis,
University of Glasgow,
''The Cardiff Times''
)
Gallery
File:Walton-on-Thames, statue on the grave of George Virtue.jpg, upright=0.9, Grave of George Virtue (1870), Walton-on-Thames
Walton-on-Thames, known locally as Walton, is a market town on the bank (geography), south bank of the River Thames, Thames in northwest Surrey, England. It is in the Borough of Elmbridge, about southwest of central London. Walton forms part ...
, alt=Colour photograph of an ivy-covered sculpture of a woman
File:Thomas Stephens (1821–1875) bust.jpg, Bust of Welsh historian, literary critic and social reformer Thomas Stephens (1821–1875), by Joseph Edwards; presented to Stephens as a testimonial after 25 years as honorary secretary of the Merthyr Library, alt=Black-and-white photograph of a marble bust of a bearded man
File:Girl's Own Paper masthead.png, upright=1.7, 1886 masthead illustration of ''The Girl's Own Paper
''The Girl's Own Paper'' (''G.O.P.'') was a British story paper catering to girls and young women, published from 1880 until 1956.
Publishing history
The first weekly number of ''The Girl's Own Paper'' appeared on 3 January 1880. As with its m ...
'', based on ''The Spirit of Love and Truth'' by Edwards, alt=Black-and-white drawing of a woman holding a banner showing the name of the magazine
File:Joseph Edwards grave in Highgate Cemetery.jpg, Grave of Joseph Edwards in Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a place of burial in North London, England, designed by architect Stephen Geary. There are approximately 170,000 people buried in around 53,000 graves across the West and East sides. Highgate Cemetery is notable both for so ...
, set in ivy-covered surrounds, with his bas-relief portrait
File:Monument to Eliza Vaughan by Joseph Edwards.jpg, Monument to Eliza Vaughan at Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a place of burial in North London, England, designed by architect Stephen Geary. There are approximately 170,000 people buried in around 53,000 graves across the West and East sides. Highgate Cemetery is notable both for so ...
(West)
References
External links
*
*
Notable Men of Wales: Joseph Edwards, the Sculptor. (1882) (biography)
*
Current Notes. (1882) (death notice)
*
Current Notes. (1882) (list of some of Edward's works)
*
Bequest to Cymmrodorion Society. (1882)
*
Oil painting of the late Joseph Edwards. (1883)
Harris family sculpture, Cefn Cemetery, Merthyr. (1909)*
Joseph Edwards. () (biography)
*
Joseph Edwards (). (sketch)
*
This marble bust by an eminent Welsh sculptor had been left in a cupboard under the stairs at Aberystwyth University. (2016)Marble Bust of prolific Merthyr scholar rediscovered. (2016)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Joseph
1814 births
1882 deaths
19th-century Welsh sculptors
19th-century Welsh male artists
Burials at Highgate Cemetery
Monumental masons
People from Merthyr Tydfil
Welsh male sculptors