Robert Forrest
Encyclopedia
Robert Forrest was a Scottish monumental sculptor, receiving many important commissions in the early 19th century.
He was self-taught, beginning his working life as a mason in a stone quarry in Clydesdale
. Allegedly his first patron, Colonel Gordon, discovered him in 1817, carving figures of animals in his quarry.
His first commissioned work was a figure of Bacchus
for the Colonel. Enough commissions fiollowed to allow him to adopt sculpture as his sole profession. He set up studio on the edge of a quarry near Lanark
. Early works included "Old Norval", "Falstaff
" and "Rob Roy
".
In Edinburgh
in 1830 he exhibited equestrian statues of the Duke of Wellington
, the Duke of Marlborough
, Queen Mary
and Lord Herries, together with "Robert the Bruce and the Monk". The exhibition of these works was apparently a popular attraction in Edinburgh for 20 years, totalling thirty of his works by the time of his death.
In his home of Lanark he was commissioned to created a statue of William Wallace
.
He was self-taught, beginning his working life as a mason in a stone quarry in Clydesdale
Clydesdale
Clydesdale was formerly one of nineteen local government districts in the Strathclyde region of Scotland.The district was formed by the Local Government Act 1973 from part of the former county of Lanarkshire: namely the burghs of Biggar and Lanark and the First, Second and Third Districts...
. Allegedly his first patron, Colonel Gordon, discovered him in 1817, carving figures of animals in his quarry.
His first commissioned work was a figure of Bacchus
Bacchus
Bacchus is the Roman name for Dionysus, the god of wine and intoxication.Bacchus can also refer to:* Temple of Bacchus, a Roman temple at a large classical antiquity complex in Baalbek, Lebanon...
for the Colonel. Enough commissions fiollowed to allow him to adopt sculpture as his sole profession. He set up studio on the edge of a quarry near Lanark
Lanark
Lanark is a small town in the central belt of Scotland. Its population of 8,253 makes it the 100th largest settlement in Scotland. The name is believed to come from the Cumbric Lanerc meaning "clear space, glade"....
. Early works included "Old Norval", "Falstaff
Falstaff
Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare. In the two Henry IV plays, he is a companion to Prince Hal, the future King Henry V. A fat, vain, boastful, and cowardly knight, Falstaff leads the apparently wayward Prince Hal into trouble, and is...
" and "Rob Roy
Rob Roy
Rob Roy may refer to the following:*A colloquial name for Scottish hero Robert Roy MacGregor, who has been described as the Scottish Robin Hood* Rob Roy , from the Child Ballads...
".
In Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1830 he exhibited equestrian statues of the Duke of Wellington
Duke of Wellington
The Dukedom of Wellington, derived from Wellington in Somerset, is a hereditary title in the senior rank of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first holder of the title was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington , the noted Irish-born career British Army officer and statesman, and...
, the Duke of Marlborough
Duke of Marlborough
Duke of Marlborough , is a hereditary title in the Peerage of England. The first holder of the title was John Churchill , the noted English general, and indeed an unqualified reference to the Duke of Marlborough in a historical text will almost certainly refer to him.-History:The dukedom was...
, Queen Mary
Queen Mary
-Monarchs:* Maria of Montferrat , queen regnant of Jerusalem, daughter of Isabella I of Jerusalem and Conrad of Montferrat and mother of Isabella II of Jerusalem...
and Lord Herries, together with "Robert the Bruce and the Monk". The exhibition of these works was apparently a popular attraction in Edinburgh for 20 years, totalling thirty of his works by the time of his death.
In his home of Lanark he was commissioned to created a statue of William Wallace
William Wallace
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight and landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence....
.
Other principal works
- Statue of Viscount MelvilleViscount MelvilleViscount Melville, of Melville in the County of Edinburgh, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1802 for the notable lawyer and politician Henry Dundas. He was made Baron Dunira, in the County of Perth, at the same time, also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom...
(1822) on top of the huge monument in the centre of St Andrews Square, Edinburgh. This is said to be based on a model by Francis Chantrey. - "James V of ScotlandJames V of ScotlandJames V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
at Cramond Brig" (1836) in Clermiston in Edinburgh. - John KnoxJohn KnoxJohn Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
standing on a huge column (1825) in the centre of Glasgow NecropolisGlasgow NecropolisThe Glasgow Necropolis is a Victorian cemetery in Glasgow, Scotland. It is on a low but very prominent hill to the east of Glasgow Cathedral . Fifty thousand individuals have been buried here. Typically for the period only a small percentage are named on monuments and not every grave has a stone...
. - The Duke of WellingtonDuke of WellingtonThe Dukedom of Wellington, derived from Wellington in Somerset, is a hereditary title in the senior rank of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first holder of the title was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington , the noted Irish-born career British Army officer and statesman, and...
(1851) sited in FalkirkFalkirkFalkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
.