Gibson John

Gibson, John (1790-1866), sculptor, was born at Gyffin, near Conway. At seven years of age he used to draw animals from memory. He was apprenticed at 14 to cabinet-making, and" then to wood-carving in Liverpool. His first attempt in marble was a head of Mercury, which led Messrs. Francis to try and get him from his apprenticeship. They finally succeeded, and William Roscoe took him up. In 1816 he exhibited at the Academy, and in 1817 he came to London, and went afterwards to Rome, where he made the acquaintance of Canova and Thorwaldsen, and stayed till 1844, meantime executing many works. He adopted Greek models, and introduced the practice of tinting statuary, a method which he declared to have been employed by the Greeks. His last work was a mantelpiece for Sir John Gladstone.