Joseph Edwards
Encyclopedia
Joseph Edwards was a Welsh
sculptor.
Edwards was born in Merthyr Tydfil
, the son of a stonemason, and went to school in Merthyr. At the age of seventeen, he saw the collection of Celtic stone crosses at Margam Abbey
and decided to become a sculptor. Apprenticed to a memorial mason in Swansea
, he was quickly promoted, and in 1835 he went to London to work for William Behnes
. In 1837 he became a student at the Royal Academy
, where he won several prizes for his work. His early works include a memorial to Sir John Bernard Bosanquet. Another memorial monument, entitled "Religion", was shown at an international exhibition in 1862. His work can be seen in churches throughout England and Wales. He made busts of many contemporary figures. In 1881, sponsored by George Frederic Watts
, he was awarded a pension under the Turner bequest, but he died shortly after receiving it. He was buried in Highgate Cemetery
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
sculptor.
Edwards was born in Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, the son of a stonemason, and went to school in Merthyr. At the age of seventeen, he saw the collection of Celtic stone crosses at Margam Abbey
Margam Abbey
Margam Abbey was a Cistercian monastery, located in the village of Margam, a suburb of modern Port Talbot in Wales.-History:The abbey was founded in 1147 as a daughter house of Clairvaux by Robert, Earl of Gloucester and was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The abbey was dissolved by King...
and decided to become a sculptor. Apprenticed to a memorial mason in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, he was quickly promoted, and in 1835 he went to London to work for William Behnes
William Behnes
William Behnes was an English sculptor of the early 19th century.Born in London, Behnes was the son of a Hanoverian pianoforte-maker and his English wife. His early life was spent in Dublin where he studied art at the Dublin Academy....
. In 1837 he became a student at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
, where he won several prizes for his work. His early works include a memorial to Sir John Bernard Bosanquet. Another memorial monument, entitled "Religion", was shown at an international exhibition in 1862. His work can be seen in churches throughout England and Wales. He made busts of many contemporary figures. In 1881, sponsored by George Frederic Watts
George Frederic Watts
George Frederic Watts, OM was a popular English Victorian painter and sculptor associated with the Symbolist movement. Watts became famous in his lifetime for his allegorical works, such as Hope and Love and Life...
, he was awarded a pension under the Turner bequest, but he died shortly after receiving it. He was buried in Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a cemetery located in north London, England. It is designated Grade I on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It is divided into two parts, named the East and West cemetery....
.