Details
A William IV white marble bust of a young lady, the reverse inscribed, Sir Francis Chantrey, S.c., 1835, on socle, 29 1/2ins high (75cms)
Further details
Sir Francis Legatt Chantrey was born in Norton, Derbyshire, on April 7th, 1781 and died in London on November 25th 1841. As a boy he was an apprentice wood carver and gilder. He later received drawing lessons from Raphael Smith and at the age of twenty he began painting portraits in Sheffield. There followed a spell in London as an assistant wood carver and around 1805 he began experimenting modelling in clay. In 1810 he produced a number of bronze busts and in 1814 he studied in Rome. Chantrey soon became the most famous sculptor of his day and was Knighted in 1835. He exhibited at the R.A. from 1804 until his death, becoming A.R.A in 1815 and R.A in 1818.