If you had the ability and years of training to take a block of wood or stone and turn it into a sublime piece of art, you too could have been employed by the church, the royal court or by a monied patron. Talented sculptors were usually in high demand and one could count on regular and continuing employment if one had the skill and techniques required. Here are many who did.
a Spanish painter, architect and sculptor. He was made first royal architect, painter to Philip IV, and instructor to the prince, Balthasar Charles, Prince of Asturias. He was notorious for his ungovernable temper; and it is said that once he risked his life by com...
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a Spanish painter, architect and sculptor. He was made first royal architect, painter to Philip IV, and instructor to the prince, Balthasar Charles, Prince of Asturias. He was notorious for his ungovernable temper; and it is said that once he risked his life by committing the then capital offence of dashing to pieces the statue of a saint, when in a rage with the purchaser who begrudged the price he demanded.
an Italian neoclassical sculptor, famous for his marble sculptures. Often regarded as the greatest of the neoclassical artists, his artwork was inspired by the Baroque and the classical revival, but avoided the melodramatics of the former, and the cold artificiality of the latter.
a notable Irish sculptor during the 19th century. His most prominent work is the Death of Nelson - one of the four bronze panels on the pedestal of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square. Carew exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1812 until 1848 when his eyesight began to fail. He was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.
an Italian sculptor and painter, who settled in England and became one of the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768. He worked, with fellow Italian sculptor Giuseppe Ceracchi at Somerset House, and on statues at Custom House in Dublin. He is particularly noted for various church monuments
a French sculptor and painter during the Second Empire under Napoleon III. Carpeaux entered the École des Beaux-Arts in 1844 and won the Prix de Rome in 1854, and moving to Rome to find inspiration, he there studied the works of Michelangelo, Donatello and Verroc...
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a French sculptor and painter during the Second Empire under Napoleon III. Carpeaux entered the École des Beaux-Arts in 1844 and won the Prix de Rome in 1854, and moving to Rome to find inspiration, he there studied the works of Michelangelo, Donatello and Verrocchio. Staying in Rome from 1854 to 1861, he obtained a taste for movement and spontaneity, which he joined with the great principles of baroque art. Carpeaux sought real life subjects in the streets and broke with the classical tradition.
a French sculptor. At a time in European history when ancient works were the measure by which all statuary was judged, in 1801 Cartellier obtained wide recognition after exhibiting a plaster version of his statue of Modesty that was based on the free-standing statue of the Capitoline Venus in Rome. Cartellier was made a member of Institut de France, of the L...
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a French sculptor. At a time in European history when ancient works were the measure by which all statuary was judged, in 1801 Cartellier obtained wide recognition after exhibiting a plaster version of his statue of Modesty that was based on the free-standing statue of the Capitoline Venus in Rome. Cartellier was made a member of Institut de France, of the Legion of Honor (1808) and decorated with the Order of St-Michel (1824).
a Spanish Baroque painter, sculptor, and poet. He trained in painting under his father Agustín del Castillo, and after his death by a little-known religious painter named Ignacio Aedo Calderón from 1631 to 1634. Later he was taught in Seville by Francisco de Zurbarán and by his uncle Juan del Castillo, who was also teacher of Cano, Murillo and De Moya. In...
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a Spanish Baroque painter, sculptor, and poet. He trained in painting under his father Agustín del Castillo, and after his death by a little-known religious painter named Ignacio Aedo Calderón from 1631 to 1634. Later he was taught in Seville by Francisco de Zurbarán and by his uncle Juan del Castillo, who was also teacher of Cano, Murillo and De Moya. In 1635 he returned to Córdoba, where he painted frescoes and oil paintings (such as those in the church of Santa Marina).
an Italian sculptor who worked in Rome. Much of his work was in restoring antique Roman sculptures, making casts, copies, and fakes of antiques, fields in which he was pre-eminent and which brought him into contact with all the virtuosi.
an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, soldier, musician, and artist who also wrote a famous autobiography and poetry. He was one of the most important artists of Mannerism. Besides his works in gold and silver, Cellini executed sculptures of a grander scale.
an English sculptor. He became the leading portrait sculptor in Regency era Britain, producing busts and statues of many notable figures of the time. His first recorded marble bust was one of the Rev. James Wilkinson (1805–6), for Sheffield parish church. His first imaginative sculpture, a head of Satan was shown at the Royal Academy in 1808.
a French sculptor who worked in a neoclassical style. He married his pupil, the painter Jeanne-Elisabeth Chaudet. He created several bas-reliefs and other statuary, some completed after his death.
a renowned English sculptor and monumental mason of the eighteenth century, and older brother of John Cheere, also a notable sculptor. In 1743, Cheere was appointed "Carver" to Westminster Abbey, an appointment which led to his creation of at least nine monuments in the Abbey. In 1750, he was appointed a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. He was knighted ...
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a renowned English sculptor and monumental mason of the eighteenth century, and older brother of John Cheere, also a notable sculptor. In 1743, Cheere was appointed "Carver" to Westminster Abbey, an appointment which led to his creation of at least nine monuments in the Abbey. In 1750, he was appointed a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. He was knighted on 10 December 1760 and created a baronet, of St Margaret's, Westminster on 19 July 1766
an English sculptor, born in London. Brother of the sculptor Sir Henry Cheere, he was originally apprenticed as a haberdasher from 1725 to 1732. Among his works were a gilt equestrian statue of William III in St James's Square, London, made in 1739, and a gilded l...
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an English sculptor, born in London. Brother of the sculptor Sir Henry Cheere, he was originally apprenticed as a haberdasher from 1725 to 1732. Among his works were a gilt equestrian statue of William III in St James's Square, London, made in 1739, and a gilded lead statue of George II for Saint Helier, Jersey, in 1751. His most lasting legacy, however, is probably his lead statues for gardens. This kind of sculptures were popular for the summer houses of the 18th century’s aristocracy.
a French sculptor who worked in a Neoclassical style that was infused with naturalism and sentiment. Much of his public sculpture in Lyon was lost during the Revolution. His intimate terracotta or marble family allegories adapted conventions of funeral monuments to present realistic allegories of family affection.
a Danish sculptor, who enjoyed great success in England, and was the father of the actor, author and poet laureate Colley Cibber. He was appointed "carver to the king's closet" by William III. Many of his works were, or are, on public display in London, including ...
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a Danish sculptor, who enjoyed great success in England, and was the father of the actor, author and poet laureate Colley Cibber. He was appointed "carver to the king's closet" by William III. Many of his works were, or are, on public display in London, including his statue of Charles II (1681), which still stands (rather worn away) in Soho Square.
a favourite sculptor of Nicholas I of Russia. He attended the classes at the Imperial Academy of Arts, where his mastery in depicting horses eventually won him the rank of academician and a praise of the tsar. Klodt's most famous group of horse sculptures, the Horse Tamers, was installed at the Anichkov Bridge in 1851. He was also responsible for the bronze ...
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a favourite sculptor of Nicholas I of Russia. He attended the classes at the Imperial Academy of Arts, where his mastery in depicting horses eventually won him the rank of academician and a praise of the tsar. Klodt's most famous group of horse sculptures, the Horse Tamers, was installed at the Anichkov Bridge in 1851. He was also responsible for the bronze statue of Ivan Krylov in the Summer Garden (1848–55). It was the first monument to a poet erected in the Russian Empire.
a Spanish Baroque painter, sculptor and gilder. Cobo was the son of the painter and gilder Cristóbal Vela. He primarily produced religious-themed works on commission for various churches and convents in and around Córdoba, Andalusia. After his father's death in 1654, Cobo took over his father's workshop and continued working until his death in 1675.
a French sculptor whose work bridged the late Gothic and Renaissance styles. His most important surviving works were for the magnificent tomb of Francis II, Duke of Brittany, in Nantes Cathedral (1502–07), and for the mausoleum of Philibert II of Savoy, at Notre-Dame de Brou, his masterwork.
a French painter, sculptor, etcher, engraver, and geometrician. In Paris Cousin continued his career as a glass-painter, and created his best-known work, the windows of the Sainte-Chapelle in Vincennes. He subsequently devoted himself to painting in oil, and has been claimed as the first Frenchman to use that new medium. Pictures attributed to him, all of mu...
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a French painter, sculptor, etcher, engraver, and geometrician. In Paris Cousin continued his career as a glass-painter, and created his best-known work, the windows of the Sainte-Chapelle in Vincennes. He subsequently devoted himself to painting in oil, and has been claimed as the first Frenchman to use that new medium. Pictures attributed to him, all of much merit, are found in several of the large European collections, but, excepting "The Last Judgment", none is known to be authentic. For a long time this work lay neglected in the sacristy of the church of the Minims, Vincennes, until it was rescued by a priest and transferred to the Louvre. It is said to be the first French picture to be engraved. He was also an illustrator of books, making many designs for woodcuts and often executed them himself.
a French sculptor and academician and the younger brother of French sculptor Nicolas Coustou. Like his brother, he was employed by Louis XIV and Louis XV. His finest works are the famous group of the "Horse Tamers" (Chevaux de Marly), which reinvent the theme of th...
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a French sculptor and academician and the younger brother of French sculptor Nicolas Coustou. Like his brother, he was employed by Louis XIV and Louis XV. His finest works are the famous group of the "Horse Tamers" (Chevaux de Marly), which reinvent the theme of the colossal Roman marbles of the Horse Tamers in the Piazza Quirinale, Rome.
a French sculptor, the son of Guillaume Coustou the Elder and nephew of Nicolas Coustou. His most prominent and ambitious official commission was the Monument to the Dauphin for the cathedral of Sens. The elaborate iconography of its somewhat overcharged design was worked up by the artist and connoisseur Charles-Nicolas Cochin.
a French sculptor and academic. He was remarkable for his facility. Influenced by Michelangelo and Algardi, he tried to combine the best characteristics of each. A number of his works were destroyed during the French Revolution.
a French sculptor. In his portrait sculptures, the likenesses were said to have been remarkably successful; he produced portrait busts of most of the celebrated men of his age, including Louis XIV and Louis XV at Versailles. He carved about a dozen funeral monument...
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a French sculptor. In his portrait sculptures, the likenesses were said to have been remarkably successful; he produced portrait busts of most of the celebrated men of his age, including Louis XIV and Louis XV at Versailles. He carved about a dozen funeral monuments, including those to Colbert (at Saint-Eustache), to Cardinal Mazarin (in the Louvre), and to the painter Le Brun (in the church of Saint Nicolas-du-Chardonnet).
an Italian Renaissance painter and sculptor. He first influenced Leonardo da Vinci and then was greatly influenced by him. For Pistoia Cathedral he completed the painting of the Madonna Enthroned between John the Baptist and St. Donatus which had been partial...
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an Italian Renaissance painter and sculptor. He first influenced Leonardo da Vinci and then was greatly influenced by him. For Pistoia Cathedral he completed the painting of the Madonna Enthroned between John the Baptist and St. Donatus which had been partially painted by his master, Verrocchio, but was left unfinished when Verrocchio went to Venice.
an English-born sculptor of Dutch parentage, being the son of the sculptor, William Cure I. He was a popular sculptor of church monuments, such as those to Sirs Philip and Thomas Hoby, Thomas' widow, Elizabeth, Lady Russell, at Bisham in Berkshire, and Sir William Cordell at Long Melford in Suffolk.
