Musgrave Lewthwaite Watson (24 January 1804 – 28 October 1847) was an English sculptor of the early 19th century.

Life

Watson was born on 24 January 1804 the son of Thomas Watson of the Bogs, Sebergham, a farm near

Carlisle Carlisle ( , ; from ) is a city in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. Carlisle's early history is marked by the establishment of a settlement called Luguvalium to serve forts along Hadrian's Wall in Roman Britain. Due to its pro ...

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is an area of North West England which was historically a county. The county was bordered by Northumberland to the north-east, County Durham to the east, Westmorland to the south-east, Lancashire to the south, and the Scottish ...

, being christened on 8 March 1804 at Hawksdale, near

Dalston Dalston () is an area of East London, in the London Borough of Hackney. It is northeast of Charing Cross. Dalston began as a hamlet on either side of Dalston Lane, and as the area urbanised the term also came to apply to surrounding areas i ...

. His father was a prosperous farmer, who also owned an iron-forge. Although he had artistic ambitions from an early age, at his parents' insistence he was articled to a solicitor in

in 1821. Following his fathers's death in 1823, he abandoned the legal profession and went to London to study sculpture. He took advice from

John Flaxman John Flaxman (6 July 1755 – 7 December 1826) was a British sculptor and draughtsman, and a leading figure in British and European Neoclassicism. Early in his career, he worked as a modeller for Josiah Wedgwood's pottery. He spent several yea ...

, and studied under Robert William Sevier and at the

Royal Academy 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 ...

. In 1825 he left for Rome. On his return in 1828 he was determined to set up as a sculptor on his own account, rather than work in another artist's studio. However financial difficulties forced him to seek employment with Sir Francis Chantrey. He argued with Chantrey and afterwards worked for Richard Westmacott, William Behnes and Edward Hodges Baily. According to his biographer, Henry Lonsdale, he then spent two years at the Coade Artificial Stone Works in Lambeth, where he modelled sculptures and friezes for both private and public buildings. The work was well paid, but he decided to leave and set up his own studio once more. He fell into financial difficulties again, and in 1832 had his belongings distrained for rent. However, eventually circumstances improved: a stone frieze for Edward Moxhay's Hall of Commerce in

Threadneedle Street Threadneedle Street is a street in the City of London, England, between Bishopsgate at its northeast end and Bank junction in the southwest. It is one of nine streets that converge at Bank. It lies in the ward of Cornhill. History Threadne ...

in the City of London, completed in 1842, brought him critical acclaim. Five and a half feet tall and seventy three feet long, it can now be seen in Battishill Street Gardens, Napier Terrace,

Islington Islington ( ) is an inner-city area of north London, England, within the wider London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's #Islington High Street, High Street to Highbury Fields ...

. In the same year he received a lucrative commission from Lord Eldon for a marble double portrait of his grandfather, the first Lord Eldon, and his great-uncle, Baron Stowell. The commission had originally been given to Sir Francis Chantrey, who died before it could be carried out. In 1839 Watson submitted designs to both competitions held by the Nelson Memorial Committee for a monument to be erected in

Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square ( ) is a public square in the City of Westminster in Central London. It was established in the early-19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the Royal Navy, ...

. He was unsuccessful, but was later chosen to sculpt the relief panel of the Battle of Cape St. Vincent on the pedestal of the winning entry,

William Railton William Railton (1800–1877) was an English architect, best known as the designer of Nelson's Column. He was based in London, with offices at 12 Regent Street for much of his career. Life He was born in Clapham (then in Surrey) on 14 May 180 ...

Nelson's Column Nelson's Column is a monument in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, Central London, built to commemorate Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson's decisive victory at the Battle of Trafalgar over the combined French and Spanish navies, during whi ...

. He was, however, unhappy with the terms of the commission, writing in a letter " I think the world will be disappointed with the relievi. The subjects are unfit for sculpture, or at least unfavourable." Watson died before the Cape St Vincent relief could be finished, having suffered from a persistent heart condition for most of his adult life. He also left the Eldon sculpture and a statue of John Flaxman to be completed by others. Just before his death he had most of the models in his studio destroyed. He died of heart disease on 28 October 1847 at his home at 13 Upper Gloucester Place in London. He was buried on the western side of

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 ...

. The grave (no.2444) has no headstone or marker.

Recognition

A memorial to Musgrave Watson was erected in

Carlisle Cathedral Carlisle Cathedral, formally the , is a Listed building, Grade I listed Anglicanism, Anglican cathedral in the city of Carlisle, Cumbria, Carlisle, Cumbria, England. It was founded as an Augustinian priory and became a cathedral in 1133. It is a ...

Family

He lived with a young woman, the daughter of a publican in Carlisle, but never married her. It is unclear if he had children.Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis p.415

Works

*Double portrait of brothers Lord Eldon and Lord Stowell at

University College, Oxford University College, formally The Master and Fellows of the College of the Great Hall of the University commonly called University College in the University of Oxford and colloquially referred to as "Univ", is a Colleges of the University of Oxf ...

(1842). *Statue of

Queen Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudor. Her eventful reign, and its effect on history ...

for the

Royal Exchange, London The Royal Exchange in London was founded in the 16th century by the merchant Sir Thomas Gresham on the suggestion of his factor (agent), factor Richard Clough to act as a centre of commerce for the City of London. The site was provided by the Ci ...

(1844). *Marble statues of Major Francis Aglionby, MP for East Cumberland, (1843) and

Lord Lonsdale Earl of Lonsdale is a title that has been created twice in British history, firstly in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1784 (becoming extinct in 1802), and then in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1807, both times for members of the Lowth ...

(1845) in

. *Statue of

for

University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

(1847). *Pedimental sculpture for the Victoria Rooms in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

. *Frieze from Edward Moxhay's Hall of Commerce in the

City of London The City of London, also known as ''the City'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and Districts of England, local government district with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in England. It is the Old town, his ...

; installed in Battishill Street Gardens,

in 1975.

Notes

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Musgrave 1804 births 1847 deaths 19th-century English male artists 19th-century English sculptors Burials at Highgate Cemetery English male sculptors People from Dalston, Cumbria