George IV by Chantrey, in Trafalgar Square Francis Chantrey, one
of the most important establishment sculptors in the early 19th
Century, only just falls within the Victorian period. However,
he had a profound influence by reason of his Bequest, which
allowed the Royal Academy to purchase works of art executed in
Britain for the national collection (later the Tate Gallery, now
Tate Britain). Chantrey was born at Norton near Sheffield, his
father being a carpenter, and was initially apprenticed to a
carver/gilder named Ramsay. The then well-known mezzotint
engraver Raphael Smith was a frequent visitor to Ramsay's shop,
took a liking to Chantrey, and gave him drawing lessons.
Chantrey started to paint portraits, and moved from portrait
painting to wood carving and back again before making his first
attempts at clay modelling. Finally in 1809, he exhibited a Head
of Satan at the Royal Academy, which led to commissions to make
busts of Nelson and other admirals for Greenwich Hospital. His
big break came with anot