John Gibson (1790–1866) was a Welsh sculptor, central to the Neoclassical movement. In 1817, he moved to Rome, where he was apprenticed to Antonio Canova (1757–1822), Italy’s leading sculptor, and was later viewed as his natural successor. Feeling the absence of a British art school in Rome, in 1821 Gibson joined other artists including sculptors Richard Westmacott the Younger (1799–1872) and Lawrence Macdonald (1799–1878), and painters Joseph Severn (1793–1879) and Charles Eastlake (1793–1865) – later the first Director of the National Gallery – to establish the British Academy of Arts in Rome. He spent the rest of his life in the city, returning to England only occasionally for work.
In 1829, Gibson was elected to the Academy of Saint Luke, Rome, and by 1831, became a resident academician. He was made an associate of the Royal Academy in London in 1833 and became a full Academician in 1836. His studio in Rome was a hub of activity, producing not only idealised statues from Classical mythology in marble, on which his reputation was founded, but also bas-reliefs and portrait busts of contemporary subjects and replicas of his popular works. His designs became well known through being reproduced as jewellery and cameos. Enjoying prestigious royal patronage in later years, he created several works for Queen Victoria (1819–1901). After his death, an early biography was written by Lady Eastlake (1809–1893).
Gibson’s work was marked by a deep commitment to Classical aesthetics, though certain critics felt his strict adherence to tradition stifled his creativity. His legacy was secured by his pioneering bequest to the Royal Academy, orchestrated by Charles Eastlake, then President of the Academy. Gibson’s works are now in major collections, including the Walker Art Gallery and the National Museum of Wales.
