Joseph Nollekens

(b London, 11 Aug 1737; d London, 3 April 1823). Sculptor, son of (1) Joseph Francis Nollekens. Showing an early talent for modelling, he was apprenticed to Peter Scheemakers (ii) in 1750. From 1758 he frequented the private gallery in Whitehall, London, made available to artists by its owner, Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond. Having won a distinguished number of premiums at the Society of Arts (1759-62), Joseph went to study in Rome, arriving there in August 1762. He found work with Bartolomeo Cavaceppi and turned to restoring and copying from the Antique. He carved copies of Cavaceppi's Boy on a Dolphin (e.g. c. 1766; Burghley House, Cambs) for several English Grand Tourists and made his first portrait busts, including David Garrick (1764; Althorp House, Northants), Laurence Sterne (1766; London, N.P.G.) and Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Rome, Accad. N. S Luca). With his reputation and a small fortune established, he returned to England in 1770. Elected ARA in 1771 and RA the following year, he exhibited at the Royal Academy, London, most years until 1816. In 1774 he married Mary, daughter of Justice Saunders Welch; through her he met Samuel Johnson, whose portrait (plaster, 1777; e.g. Lichfield, Samuel Johnson Birthplace Mus.) was said by Sir Francis Chantrey to be the finest Nollekens ever made.

Part of the Nollekens family

See the Abbreviations for further details.

Nollekens, Joseph (1737-1823). An English sculptor, Nollekens was the son of an Antwerp painter settled in England. Between 1760 and 1770, in Rome, he laid the foundations of his financial and artistic success. Many of his monuments and busts are in Westminster abbey.

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Joseph Nollekens.

Castor and Pollux; copy of an antique statue by Joseph Nollekens, Victoria and Albert Museum

Joseph Nollekens (11 August 1737 – 23 April 1823) was a sculptor from London generally considered to be the finest British sculptor of the late 18th century. He was also a founder member of the Royal Academy in 1768.

He studied first under Peter Scheemakers before studying and working as an antiques dealer, restorer and copier in Rome from 1759 to 1770. Returning to England he became one of the most fashionable portrait sculptors in the country.

Nollekens enjoyed the patronage of George III and went on to sculpt a number of British political figures, including George III himself, William Pitt the Younger, Charles James Fox, the Duke of Bedford and Charles Watson-Wentworth. He also made busts of a number of figures from the arts such as Laurence Sterne and Benjamin West. Additionally, he made a large number of church monuments.

Nollekens died in London, having made a fortune from his work. A notorious miser, he left around £200,000 in his will.

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