Edward Hodges Baily RA (1788-1867) was a native of Bristol, the son of a carver of ships' figure-heads. He showed early promise in carving and wax modelling and in 1807 entered the studio of Flaxman. He then became chief modeller to Rundell & Bridge, the leading gold and silversmiths, and also was a student at the Royal Academy Schools from 1809. He exhibited much at the Academy, and was elected ARA in 1817, and full RA in 1821.