GIBSON, JOHN, one of the first sculptors of his day, was b. at Conway, in North. Wales, in 1791. His father, a landscape-gardener, removed to Liverpool about the beginning of this century, and here Gibson received his education. His love of art mani fested itself strongly, even while he was a mere boy at school, and at the age of 16 he entered the marble works of the Messrs. Francis, by he was introduced to Roscoe, whose art treasures were placed at his service. Through the kindness of some wealthy friends he was enabled, in his 26th year, to proceed to Rome, where he became a pupil of Canova., and after his death of Thorwaldsen. Gibson then fixed his residence in that, city, and very seldom revisited his native country. His first reappearance in England was after a lapse of 28 years. At first, Gibson showed himself, naturally enough, a faithful follower of Canova, whose graceful softness 'lc made his own. But he did not. stop there. By the study of the antique, Tliorwaldsen was the very man to stimulate, Gibson finally rose to ideal purity, and a thorough realization of the grace of form. This advance is clearly traceable in his works. His first important work was a "Nymph Unfastening her Sandal." This was followed by a group
"Psyche Borne by the Zephyrs," which he executed for sir George Beaumont, and which he several times repeated. In the church of St. Nicholas, in Liverpool, there is a bas-relief of e".4ibson's representing a traveler conducted on the dangerous path of life by his guardian angel. Among his greatest works are his " Aurora Rising from the Waves. to Announce the Day " (belonging to lord Townshend); " The Wounded Amazon " (the property of the marquis of Westminister); " The Hunter and his Dog; " " Narcissus,' Helen," " Sappho," " Proserpina," and "Venus." A spirit of the finest breathes through these works: they are thoroughly classical, and are marked by a. noble severity. His grand innovation, viz., that of tinting his figures, which he defended by a reference to Grecian precedents, has not commended itself to the public. taste. Among his portrait-statues, those of Huskisson, Peel, George Stephenson, and queen Victoria are the best. In 1836, Gibson was elected a member of the royal academy, to which he left a representative collection of his works. He d. Jan. 1866. See Life by lady Eastlake (1869).