Samuel Nixon (artist)


Samuel Nixon was a portrait sculptor in London, England.

Career

Nixon's workshop was at 2 White Hart, Bishopsgate. Nixon worked for his friend Henry Doulton who established Royal Doulton.
He is most well known for the Devonshire granite sculpture of William IV, which was originally located near London Bridge on King William St. and was moved Greenwich in 1935. Gentleman’s Magazine called it "a striking and imposing object… a masterpiece" and "one of the chief ornaments of the City of London." It was, they wrote, "admired by all who are capable of appreciating artistic genius."
He repeatedly exhibited at the Royal Academy.
Nixon also worked on Goldsmiths' Hall. He created the four marble statues of children that he entitled The Four Seasons. The statues stand on four pedestals on the lower flight of the grand staircase. Gentleman Magazine described as “a work of the highest merit... such beautiful personifications.” The Illustrated London News declared “’The Goldsmiths’ is the most magnificent of all the Halls of the City of London.” The white marble statues of “The Seasons” are described as “exquisite” and that Nixon achieved “extreme delicacy” with his “masterly chisel.”
Gentleman’s Magazine indicated that he has “been employed principally in sepulchral sculpture, and had executed numerous works of a superior character in that class, many of which have been sent to Canada.”
He died at Kennington House, Kennington Common in 1854.

Family

Nixon was the seventh child of Thomas and Sarah Nixon, he was baptised at St Mary-at-Hill on 29 July. His elder brother was James Henry Nixon, a painter on glass. He was also the uncle of James Thomas Nixon.

Gallery

Works

Links

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