The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-02 00:00:00

'A S.

The Late Mr. Gibson.

(From the Correspondent of the Times.)

ROME, Jan. 27.
After lingering many days, for he was struck with
paralysis on the 9th inst., John Gibson, the great
British sculptor, died this morning at 7.35. The
lamp of life had flickered so frequently since the
moment of his first attack that his friends indulged
in hopes that he might be spared for yet a short
time longer.

So distinguished a man as John Gibson cannot be
permitted to pass away in silence, and the following
details, collected partly from his friends and partly
from the long and close intercourse which I had the
privilege of enjoying with him, embrace, perhaps,
the leading facts of his successful and honourable
career. He was born at Conway in 1791 or 1793,
for Gibson was singularly reserved on this point,
but as he was baptised in the parish church of that
place the register will doubtless contain the true date.
At an early period of his life he was taken to Liver-
pool by his parents, who had formed the design of
emigrating to America, and we are, perhaps, in-
debted to the superstition of his mother for the de-
velopment of the genius which has shed so much
honour on our country. Just on the eve of starting
she had a dream, which exercised so strong an influ-
ence on her mind that she induced her husband to
abandon his original project, and thus the family
settled in Liverpool. Here Gibson had a wider
field of observation, and indulged his love of art by
studying the prints in the shop windows. Too poor
to buy them, he was in the habit of running home
and drawing his reminiscences, returning at inter-
vals to correct them. These he sold to his school-
fellows, one of whom gave him probably his first
commission. It was for a drawing to embellish
his Bible, and the subject selected by the
boy was " Napoleon crossing the Alps," from
a print of David's celebrated picture. "He
paid me sixpence for it," said Gibson, " and I
remonstrated with him on the magnificence of the
remuneration." At an early age he was apprenticed
to Messrs. Southwell and Co., wood-carvers, and
very soon attracted the attention of his masters by
the cleverness of his execution, but the impulse of
his genius was too strong to allow of his remaining
there. He was discontented, and with characteristic
resolution resolved on leaving. At this critical
.moment Mr. Samuel Francis, an eminent monu-
mental sculptor, visited the shop of Southwell, and
saw and admired the works of Gibson. He dis-
covered, too, the secret aspirations of the young
artist, and purchasing his indentures for £7O, took
him into his own service. The friendship of Mr.
Roscoe, who was distinguished as much by his re-
fined taste as by his benevolence, and who then had
wealth to gratify the impulses of both, was of the
utmostadvantage to Gibson, and it is not improbable
that to the author of " Lorenzo di Medicis" he was
indebted for that exquisite refinement which is dis-
played in all his works, as he certainly was for his
admiration of Greek art. The dream of Gibson's
lifej:hoWever, was to visit Rome, to see and study
the immortal works of the old masters, and happy
was he in having secured a friend, who, though his
own fortunes were now depressed, had influence
enough to secure to him the means of gratifying his
wishes. Mr. Roscoe and Mrs. Lawrence induced
some of the merchant princes of Liverpool to form
a purse for the maintenance of the young artist in
Rome, and furnished with a letter from General
D'Aguilar to Canova, he started on that path which
led him to distinction. It was- in 1817 that the
young artist arrived in Rome, where he received
the most generous welcome from Canova. In that
great master's studio he worked until the death of
Canova, in 1822. In his evening school he was a
constant attendant, never missing a single lesson,
and he so worrupon tanova that he gave him strong
marks of his favour, recommended him to take a
studio, and promised to send him some of his own
distinguished visitors. In fact, in a very short time,
on the recommendation of Canova, the Duke of
Devonshire visited Gibson, and gave him his first
commission for the noble group of Mars and Cupid,
which he was then modelling. From that time his
life had been one continued career of honourable
labour and well-merited success. His studio was
visited by every stranger, and no one who had the
privilege of an introduction will ever forget the
simpleand lucid manner in which he used to narrate
his favourite Greek legends, illustrative of the im-
mortal figures he created. When the Prince of WTales
visited Rome in 1857 Gibson was a frequent and
honoured guest at his Royal Highness's table, and
her Majesty, whose high appreciation of all that is
great in art is well known, gave Gibson many com-
missions, and conferred on him many marks of
her confidence and admiration. It is a fact,
equally honourable to the Queen and her dis-
tinguished subject, that a telegram despatched by.
her Majesty's orders arrived here yesterday morn-
ing, inquiring after the health of the great artist.
He was then still sensible, and his friends, thinking
it would give him satisfaction, placed it in his hands.
On attempting to withdraw it he held it so fast that
they were compelled to leave it, and with this mark
of Royal favour and kindness in his hands he died.
Other Sovereigns and other countries have delighted
in doing honour to Gibson. He was decorated by
the present Emperor of the French with the order
of the Legion of Honour ; his statue now stands in
Munich by direction of King Ludwig, together with
those of Tenerani, Schwanthaler, and Routh,
selected by his Majesty as men who have dignified
sculptural art. A Royal Academician and member
of the Society in St. Luke's in Rome, he was asso-
ciated with many other artistic societies in various
countries, but this brief notice precludes the possi-
bility of entering into details. All I have attempted
is to give the leading features of a life which has
been marked by singular and honourable success.
His life was one continued labour, and perhaps his
last is his best great work. It is still in the clay, but
it is to be cast in bronze immediately.
Perhaps this notice of Gibson should be properly
confined to his life as.an artist, but you will permit
private friendship to offer its expression of homage
and respect to him as a man. Oae of a simpler or a
purer mind scarcely, I think, existed. His modesty
and unpresuming bearing won the confidence and
affection of all men, while it led to the concealment
of numerous acts of charity unknown to the world.
But there are those in Rome who bear grateful tes-
timony to the kindness which he ever showed in
counselling and forming their taste, and who now
lament him as a father. During his illness he was
surrounded by friends of both sexes, who, as a
labour of love, smoothed his last moments, and con- •
tributed as much as human affection could to his
comfort.

FUNERAL OF THE REV. JOHN MACDONALD, OF
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH.—On Wednesday pontifical
high mass was celebrated in St. Patrick's Church, Cow-
gate, previous to the funeral of this much-respected Roman
Catholic clergyman, who died on Saturday last, of typhus
fever, contracted while visiting the sick in the wards of the
Royal Infirmary. The church was crowded in every part.
The cof£►n, which was richly decorated with silver orna-
ments, was placed in the centre of the church, on a raised
pedestal, at the four corners of which large tapers were
burning in silver candlesticks. On the lid of the coffin
were laid the robes of the deceased ; and on each side of the
bier were ranged a largo number of priests dressed in white,
each bearing a lighted taper in his hand. The church was
draped with black cloth, the pillars entwined with
wreaths of white flowers. The altar was brilliantly
lighted up for the occasion, showing the large crucifix
and the paintings off to great advantage. The great
bell of St. Patrick's tolled at intervals during
the solemn ceremony; and the deep -toned music of the
organ, added to the full chorus of the singers, was well
fitted to impress with solemn awe those who had assem-
bled to pay the last tribute to the memory of their beloved
pastor. Bishop Strain, who conducted the services, pro-
nounced an eloquent funeral oration on the deceased, in
which he passed a high eulogium on his character, and
alluded in feeling terms to the loss which the Church had
sustained by his sudden and premature death. Cut off
while yet in the prime of life, by a disease which he had
caught while zealously discharging his Christian duties,
the Rev. John Macdowild, he said, would long be remem-
bered by all with whom he had come in contact for his up-
right, kind, and courteous bearing, for his fidelity as a pas-
tor, and for his devotedness to the Catholic Church. After
the services the remains of the deceased were placed in a
hearse, and conveyed to the West Church burying-ground,
followed by a very large and respectalie company of
mourners. At the grave the Bishop read the burial service,
the company standing uncovered. The funeral arrange-
ments were conducted by Mr. O'Donnell, Hanover-street.
—Scotsman.