Samuel Joseph (1791 – 1 July 1850) was a British sculptor, working in the early 19th century.
Contents
Life
Very little is known about Joseph's early life.
He was a pupil of Peter Rouw, and attended the Royal Academy Schools in 1811, gaining the silver medal there in both 1811 and 1812. In 1815 he won the gold medal for "Eve Supplicating Forgiveness". In 1823 he went to Edinburgh, becoming a founding member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1826. During this time he taught Alexander Handyside Ritchie.
He left Edinburgh in 1829 to set up a bigger and more prestigious studio in London.
His most famous and noted work is the statue of William Wilberforce in Westminster Abbey, created in 1838. A plaster copy of it also exists in St John's College, Cambridge. He exhibited in the Royal Academy from 1811 to 1846, and the Royal Scottish Academy from 1827 to 1835. He was declared bankrupt in 1848 and forced to sell most of his belongings.
He died in London on 1 July 1850, leaving seven children. The Royal Academy granted a pension to his widow, which continued until her death, 13 years later. A wax portrait of Samuel Joseph by T. Smith was exhibited in 1828 at the Royal Academy.
He is known to have trained the Edinburgh sculptor Peter Slater.
Principal works
Monument to William Vassall, Battersea Parish Church, 1800
Bust of his tutor's son, Master T. Rouw, exhibited in Royal Academy, 1811
Monument to Rev John Tattershall, Otterden, Kent, 1812
Bust of Edmund Kean for Drury Lane, 1815
Bust of Lord Beresford, exhibited in Royal Academy, 1819
Bust of General Sir Lowry Cole, exhibited in Royal Academy, 1819
Monument to Rev Granville Wheler, Otterden, Kent, 1820
Bust of Michael Angelo Taylor, exhibited in Royal Scottish Academy, 1821
Bust of Henry Mackenzie, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1822
Bust of Charles Matthews, National Portrait Gallery, 1822
Bust of Mr Liston, exhibited at Royal Academy, 1824
Bust of Lord John Campbell, 1st Baron Campbell, exhibited at Royal Academy, 1824
Bust of Sir Walter Scott, Preston Hall near Edinburgh, 1825
Bust of Sir Henry Wellwood, National Gallery, 1825
Bust of Robert Stevenson (civil engineer), for Bell Rock Lighthouse, 1828
Bust of the Duke of Argyll, exhibited in Royal Academy, 1830