GIBSON, JOHN (1790-1866). An English sculptor. He was born at Gyffin, near Conway, North Wales, and at an early age was appren ticed to a cabinet-maker in Liverpool. When sixteen years old he was employed in the marble works of Francis, at Liverpool, where his talents gained him the patronage of William Roscoe, who not only became his friend, but also secured him pecuniary aid. In 1817 he made his way to London, and in the same year he went to Rome, bearing a letter of introduction from Lord Brougham to Canova. He entered the atelier of Canova, and remained in Rome twenty-seven years, executing in that city most of his impor tant works. He occasionally returned to Eng land to superintend the placing of his statues, and on these occasions was received with en thusiasm, and every attention paid him.
In 1819 he executed his first commission, a group of "Mars and Cupid," for the Duke of Devonshire, now at Chatsworth. Under the in fluence of Canova and Thorwaldsen, his work became thoroughly classic, and he excelled in portraying ideal Greek subjects of youthful beauty. Among the most famous of these are the "Psyche Borne by Zephyrs" (1821) and "Hylos Surprised by Nymphs" (1826), both in the National Gallery, London; and especially his statue of "Venus with the Turtle," one of his latest works, which he himself considered his best. In this statue he made use of the poly
chromy of the Greeks, as he conceived it. He was so thoroughly wedded to Greek art that when commissioned to make a portrait statue of Queen Victoria he would do it in no other wise than represent her in classical draperies and with sandals. In the Palace of Westminster he carved the group in which the Queen is repre sented leading the allegorical figures of "Clem ency" and "Justice." The only religious sub ject he portrayed was "Christ Blessing the Little Children." His best work in the round was the "Hunter and Dog." His classical tendencies in terfered with his success in portrait statues. Among the best known of these are the colossal statue of Huskisson (1844), in Liverpool, and two other statues of the same statesman; Sir Robert Peel, in Westminster Abbey; and George Stevenson, in Liverpool. Gibson was a man of kindly life and character, and notoriously absent minded. His only pupil and most intimate friend was Harriet Hosmer, the American sculptress. He died in Rome, January 27, 1866. Consult his Life, by Lady Eastlake (London, 1869), which also contains his autobiography.