Thomas Alphonso Hayley facts for kids
Thomas Alphonso Hayley (born October 5, 1780 – died May 2, 1800) was a talented English sculptor. He showed a great love for art from a young age. Even though he passed away young, he created several important sculptures and drawings.
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Thomas Alphonso Hayley: A Young Artist
Thomas Alphonso Hayley was born in 1780. His father was William Hayley, a well-known writer. From a young age, Thomas showed a strong interest in art. By 1794, he was already showing signs of becoming a sculptor.
Learning and Growing
Thomas was lucky to have famous artists notice his talent. Joseph Wright of Derby, a painter, encouraged him to learn drawing. Later, two other important artists, George Romney and John Flaxman, also saw his potential. In 1795, when he was about 15, Thomas became a student of John Flaxman. He lived with Flaxman for three years to learn sculpture.
Thomas was a very promising artist. He even tried oil painting, which is a different kind of art.
Facing Challenges and His Final Years
Sadly, in 1798, Thomas started to have health problems. He suffered from a condition called curvature of the spine, which affected his back. Because of his illness, he had to leave his studies and return to his father's home in Felpham, Sussex. He bravely dealt with his illness for two years. Thomas Alphonso Hayley passed away on May 2, 1800, when he was only 19 years old.
He was buried in a nearby place called Eartham. His former teacher, John Flaxman, carved and put up a special monument for him. Thomas's father wrote a poem for the monument to remember his son.
His Artistic Creations
Even with his short life, Thomas Alphonso Hayley created several pieces of art.
Sculptures and Medallions
He sculpted busts (head and shoulders statues) of important people. These included:
- John Flaxman (his teacher)
- Lord Thurlow (a famous lawyer and politician)
- James Stanier Clarke (a royal chaplain)
Thomas also made a medallion (a small, round sculpture) of George Romney. This medallion was later engraved by Caroline Watson for a book about Romney written by Thomas's father.
Drawings and Engravings
Thomas's father also wrote a book called Essays on Sculpture in 1800. This book included some of Thomas's work. It had a portrait of young Thomas from a medallion made by Flaxman. It also featured a drawing by Thomas called The Death of Demosthenes. Both of these were engraved by the famous artist William Blake.
Thomas Alphonso Hayley's father wrote many poems to remember his talented son.
