John Gibson RA: A British Sculptor in Rome

Delightful exhibition at the Royal Academy looking at the work of John Gibson, a Victorian sculptor who settled in Rome.

I had come across Gibson before as he trained in Liverpool and there is some of his work in the Walker Art Gallery. His patrons in Liverpool paid for his to travel to Rome to train for three years but he never returned. He initially worked in Canova’s studio but soon set up his own studio which became one of the largest in Rome.

It was interesting to see a change in his output following the French Revolution. Up to that point most of his work had been on commission but after that he began making plaster models of his ideas which he work in marble or bronze once purchased.

I loved the inclusion in the show of some of his account books which listed his assistants who were also know to work for other artists. The show was also good at showing method and liked the sketch and worked up sculpture of the meeting of Hero and Leander. I loved his touching memorial monuments such as one to the First Countess of Leicester in 1842.

Closed on 18 December 2016

 

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