Page:Dictionary of Artists of the English School (1878).djvu/511

 WYA

WYA

died in George Street, Hanover Square, March 30, 1849. He was a member of the Academies of St, Petersburg, Stockholm, and Florence.

WYAT, Enoch, sculptor. He practised in the reign of Charles L, during the Com- mon wealth, and in the reign of Charles II. He carved two figures for the water-stairs at Somerset House, and a statue of 4 Jupi- ter,' and modelled a very large figure to form part of Inigo Jones s restorations of Old St. Paul's, but it was never used. In the Puritan times he altered and draped the statues by John of Bologna and Le Soeur. which had been thrust out into Whitehall Gardens, and were considered ' heathenish and profane.'

WYATT, James, R.A., architect. Was born August 3, 1748, at Burton Constable, Staffordshire, where his father was a farm- er and dealer in timber. He received the common education of a small country town, and evineing an early taste for drawing and architecture, was fortunate in attract- ing the notice of Lord Bagot, who, when nominated on an embassy to Italy, took young Wyatt, then only 14 years of age, with him that he might study architec- ture in Rome. Here he spent three or four years, and then went to Venice, and studied for two years under Vincentinl In 1766 he returned to England, and in 1770 his merit was acknowledged by his election as an as- sociate of the Royal Academy. He, with great skill, adapted the Old Pantheon, in Oxford Street, for dramatic performances ; and becoming the place of fashionable re- sort, it at once gave him a reputation and established him in his profession. So widely was his name known, that an offer was made him to settle in Russia, as the architect of the great Catherine.

But he already ranked foremost in his profession at home, and was employed as the architect of several fine mansions. His works had hitherto been in the classic style, in which he was educated, but his genius led him to assist in the revival of the Gothic, and he employed draftsmen to make drawings of our ancient monastic and baronial structures. His first work in this style was a mansion at Lee, near Canter- bury ; and he was, in 1778. employed in making additions to some oi the Colleges in Oxford. He was, at the same time, em- ployed on the Observatory and Library at Oriel, and made some alterations at Baliol. He was also engaged in the restorations at Salisbury and Lincoln Cathedrals, and his Gothic works were as popular as his classic. But the archaeologists accuse him loudly of reckless adaptations and demolitions, and not without just cause. Yet it must be remembered that Gothic architecture was little understood in his time.

Prosperous in his art, enjoying the chief 490

practice in his profession, he was in 1785 elected a full member of the Academy, and was for many years a contributor to their exhibitions. On the death of Sir William Chambers, in 1796. he was appointed Sur- veyor-General to the Board of Works, fol- lowed by appointments to several other public offices. At this time he erected Fonthill Abbey for Mr. Beckford, son of the Alderman, and the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. By virtue of his office, he was employed on works at the House of Lords, and at Windsor Castle. He commenced a Gothic Palace at Kew, for George III., since pulled down. Dur- ing a misunderstanding between West, P.R. A, and the Council of the Academy— upon the express wish of the King— he temporarily filled the office of President. In 1805 he built for Mr. Codrington a man- sion at Doddington, finished in 1808, at a cost of 120,000£, and commenced Ashridge for the Earl of Bridgewater. He designed the front of White s Club in St. James's Street. On his way from Bath to London he was overturned in his carriage, near Marlborough, and died instantly, Septem- ber 5, 1813. For nearly 48 years he was at the head of a lucrative profession ; dur- ing a considerable part of that time he enjoyed the Royal favour. He had great means of amassing wealth, but he wanted prudence. At an early age he reached the summit of his reputation and practice. He found riches too easily gained to rate them at their worth, and he left little more than his reputation to his family. A widow and four sons survived him.

WYATT, Samuel, architect. Elder brother of the above; studied his art in Italy, and brought home a rich portfolio of sketches on his return. He practised in the Roman style. He built Hooton Hall, the mansion at Tatton Park, and com- pleted Kedleston, for Lord Scarsdale. In 1795 he finished the Trinity House on Tower Hill, which introduced him to other works. He was appointed architect to the Bank of England, and Clerk of the Works to Chelsea Hospital. He died at Chelsea, February 8, 1807, and was buried there.

WYATT, Benjamin Dean, architect. Eldest son of the foregoing James Wyatt, R.A. He was born m London in 1775, and was educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford, where be continued till 1797. He was then pupil, and for a time assistant, to his father, and after- wards visited some of the chief capitals in Europe. Returning in 1802, he became private secretary to Sir Arthur Wellesley, and was with him in this capacity in Ire- land and in India. Then returning to his profession, he gained employment as an architect. He commence! 1 tine rebuilding