THORN'YCROFT. A family of English sculptors. MARY (1814-95). born in Thornham, Norfolk, was a pupil of her father, John Francis, the sculptor, and exhibited her first work at the Royal Academy in 1835. In 1S40 she mar ried Thomas Thornyeroft, a fellow-pupil in her father's studio. with whom she went to Italy. At Rome she made the acquaintance of John Gibson, and upon his recommendation she re ceived a commission from the Queen. after her return to London, to execute various statues and busts. Among these are the nine life-size stet nes of the royal children in the drawing-room at Osborne. and the royal children in a group. characterized as the "Four Seasons." Her ideal figures the "Flower Girl," "Sappho," and the "Skipping Girl," which last is her best work. Her husband. THOMAS TIIORNYCROFT (1815-85), devoted most of his time to mechanical schemes. but occasionally produced good sculpture, often assisted by his son Ham°. Among these are the statue of Charles I. (Westminster Hall), the group of "Commerce" on the Albert Memorial (Hyde Park), and equestrian statues of the Prince Consort at Liverpool and Wolverhampton.
Their son. WILLIAM IIA•MO THORNYCROFT ( 1850— ) , was born in London, and was educated at University College School. In 18611 he en tered the schools of the Royal Academy, ex hibiting his first work in 1871, and the same year went to Italy. The careful study of the Elgin marbles and of Italian masters greatly influenced his work, and resulted in his vigorous "Teucer" (South Kensington :Museum 1 ; "Putting the Stone." Artemis (Eaton Hall) ; "Medea." and "Lot's Wife." his athletic "Mower" (Liver pool Gallery) and the "Sower" are suggestive of the Barbizon school, although the spirit that pervades them is English. Other works include the national monument to General Gordon in Trafalgar Square; a statue of Queen Victoria in the Royal Exchange; and the Cromwell statue at Westminster. Thornyeroft is likewise re nowned for his portrait busts and bas-relief. A bust of Coleridge (1885) is in Westminster Ab bey. Ile was made a Royal Academician in 1888, and received gold medals at the Royal Academy in 1875, and at the Paris Exposition, 1900.