WYATT, RICHARD JOHN, an English sculptor of great eminence, was b. in Oxford street, London, on May 3, 1795. He belonged to a collateral branch of the family which made the name of Wyatt famous during two centuries in connection with architecture and sculpture, sharing their descent from a stock of yeomen long settled at Weeford iu Staffordshire. Having the bias of his family toward art, he became an waded pupil of Charles Rossi, R. A., sculptor, and afterward a student of the Royal academy, whose medal was twice awarded to him during his pupilage. He afterward passed some time in Paris, studying under Bosio; and from Paris, in 1821, he went to Rome, and entered the studio of Canova, where he had Gibson for a fellow-pupil. The remainder of his life was spent in Rome, in complete devotion to the prosecution of his art; and he died at Rome on May 29, 1850. His youth had shown great promise in the estimation of painters like Lawrence and sculptors like Canova; and the works which he produced in rapid succession early placed him in the front rank of English sculptors. Several of
his works were shown at the great exhibition of 1851, and the medal for sculpture was awarded to him, though he had died in the previous year. Living only for his art, he labored at it incessantly—often, it is said, from dawn till after midnight; and the num ber of his works is very great. Elegance and refinement, singularly combined with animation and finish of workmanship, are his characteristic merits, but his works also disclose a lively and graceful invention. His favorite subjects were classical and poeti zal. His most admired productions are in England, and casts from several of them are to be seen at the Crystal palace. He was not admitted to the honors of the academy, a by-law of that institution confining its membership to artists resident in England.