Edgar Papworth

Edgar George Papworth Snr (20/21 August 1809 – 20 September 1866) was an English sculptor. He studied at the Royal Academy of Arts where he later exhibited works; he created sculptures of classical themes, and of notable people of the day.

Family background Edgar Papworth was born on 20 or 21 August 1809, the only son of Thomas Papworth (1773–1814), "builder, plasterer, and architect", who conducted the last stucco and plastering works carried on in London on a large scale. These works were founded by Thomas's father, John Papworth (1750–1799), and were situated in Great Portland Street and Newman Street. John Papworth was "master-plaisterer" at St James's Palace and Kensington Palace from 1780, and executed much stucco and plastering at the palaces, at Somerset House, and at Greenwich Hospital Chapel.

Career

Edgar early exhibited talents for drawing, modelling, and design in sculpture, and at an early age was placed as a pupil with Edward Hodges Baily. He was living at the time at the house of his uncle, the architect John Buonarotti Papworth. He was entered, on 15 December 1826, at the age of seventeen, as a student of the Royal Academy of Arts; in December 1829 he obtained the silver medal for a model from the antique; in December 1831 another silver medal for a figure; December 1833 the gold medal for a group of Leucothea presenting the scarf to Ulysses; and in 1834 he received a travelling scholarship of the academy. In 1836 he sent from Rome a Psyche. He returned home in 1837 in ill-health, but exhibited in 1838 a head of Flora, and another of Psyche. and in 1859 "The Young Emigrant" and "The Bride".

Later life and death In his later years Papworth experienced financial difficulties owing to his extravagant and careless habits. He died on 20 September 1866 at his home in Dorset Square, aged 65, and was buried on 25 September on the western side of Highgate Cemetery.

Personal life In 1831, Papworth married Caroline Baily, daughter of his first master Edward Hodges Baily. She died in 1873. His eldest son, Edgar George Papworth Junior, also became a sculptor.