Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Theakston, Joseph

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737389Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 56 — Theakston, Joseph1898Edward Irving Carlyle

THEAKSTON, JOSEPH (1772–1842), sculptor, born in 1772 at York, was the son of respectable parents. In sculpture he was a pupil of John Bacon (1740–1799) [q. v.], and formed himself on his style. He also studied several years under John Flaxman [q. v.] and with Edward Hodges Baily [q. v.], but for the last twenty-four years of his life he was employed by Sir Francis Legatt Chantrey [q. v.] to carve the draperies and other accessories of that artist's statues and groups. Theakston was the ablest ornamental carver of his time. Although he appeared to work slowly, he was so accurate that he seldom needed to retouch his figures. Besides aiding Chantry, he produced some busts and monumental work of his own, and exhibited occasionally at the Royal Academy from 1817 to 1837. He died at Belgrave Place on 14 April 1842, and was buried by the side of his wife at Kensal Green.

[Times, 25 April 1842; Gent. Mag. 1842, i. 672; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists, 1878.]

E. I. C.