Nicholas Read (sculptor) facts for kids
Nicholas Read (born around 1733, died 1787) was a talented English sculptor from the 1700s. He was quite unique because he was the only student ever accepted by the very famous sculptor Roubiliac. Read is best known for his large and rather unusual monument to Admiral Richard Tyrell, which can be found in Westminster Abbey.
The Life of Nicholas Read
Nicholas Read was born in London, England, around 1733. He attended the St Martins Lane Academy to study art. His father really wanted him to learn from the famous sculptor Roubiliac. Roubiliac had promised himself he wouldn't take any students. However, he agreed to teach young Nicholas how to draw and model sculptures.
One day, Nicholas worked on one of Roubiliac's sculptures without asking for permission. Roubiliac was very impressed with how good Nicholas's work was! Because of this, Roubiliac decided to take him on as a full-time student, starting in 1750 or even earlier.
In 1762, Read won a special award called a "premium" of 100 guineas (a type of old British money). He won it from the Society of Arts for a marble sculpture he made of a character called Actaeon and his dog. Later that same year, Roubiliac passed away. Nicholas Read then took over his teacher's art studio, which was located at 66 St Martins Lane.
In 1766, Nicholas Read created a huge monument for Admiral Tyrell in Westminster Abbey. This monument was very unusual. It showed Admiral Tyrell floating upwards, almost like he was breaking free from the background. There were flat, pancake-like clouds around him. Below, a ship called HMS Buckingham lay on the seabed, caught by coral. In the 1800s, parts of the monument were moved, and the figure of Tyrell was taken away. However, the carving of the ship was highly praised by many people.
From about 1780 onwards, Nicholas Read started to have mental health problems. He passed away on July 11, 1787. His will, which is a document stating his wishes, was read the very next day. It is now kept in the National Archives at Kew.
Famous Sculptures by Nicholas Read
Nicholas Read created many important sculptures during his career. Here are some of his notable works:
- The skeleton on Roubiliac's monument to Elizabeth Nightingale in Westminster Abbey (1761)
- Monument to Francis Hooper in the Chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge (1763)
- A medallion (a round medal-like sculpture) of Isaac Newton (1763)
- Monument to James Kendall at West Horsley (around 1765)
- Monument to Elizabeth and Stephen Niblett at All Souls College, Oxford (1766)
- The huge monument to Admiral Richard Tyrell in Westminster Abbey (1766), sometimes called the "Pancake Monument"
- Monument to Sir Thomas Morgan, 3rd Baronet, at Kinnersley (1767)
- Monument to Mrs Anne Simons at Lechlade (1769)
- Monument to the Duchess of Northumberland in Westminster Abbey (1776), designed by Robert Adam
- Monument to Rev George Legh in Halifax Parish Church (1776)
- A very large monument to Nicholas Magens at Brightlingsea (1779)
- Monument to James Poole at Great Budworth (1785)
