John Hutchison (1 June 1832 – 23 May 1910) was a Scottish sculptor based in Edinburgh. He was the son of an unnamed builder, and his artistic life began as a thirteen-year-old woodcarving apprentice. He attended art school in the evenings, then later became a student at the Trustees Academy and attracted the patronage of its owner, Patrick Allan Fraser, who gave him commissions to fund his study in Rome. Although after Rome he continued to enjoy ancient Roman sculptural themes, he remained in Edinburgh for the rest of his life, working in wood, clay and marble, and concentrating on portraiture of Scottish people, and images of Scottish myth and history. He created the bust of Sir Walter Scott in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey. He was a successful artist who received commissions from Queen Victoria.
Background Hutchison's father was an Edinburgh builder. He was born in Laurieston, in north-west Edinburgh. In 1895 he was left £1,000 by James Cowan.Dundee Advertiser, Monday 9 December 1895 p3 col6: Will of the late Mr James Cowan He married Margaret Ballantine (1839–1875) on 28 June 1870 in Edinburgh. Margaret was the daughter of poet James Ballantine and Margaret Peat. Hutchison's daughter Henrietta (1871–1933) married Andrew Paterson Melville and became a Justice of the Peace. Hutchison retired in 1907 and spent much time reading. When his lifelong friend Orchardson died in April 1910, "it told very seriously upon him. He lost his old interest in life, and his strength under the blow gradually gave way."The Scotsman, Tuesday 24 May 1910 p6 col7: The late Mr John Hutchison RSA Hutchison died on 23 May 1910 in Edinburgh after a week's illness,The Times 24 May 1910, p13: People, Mr John Hutchison RSA and is buried in Grange Cemetery, in the northern half of its SE section, alongside his wife Margaret. In 1911 The Royal Scottish Academy received Hutchison's portrait by Sir William Quiller Orchardson, R.A., HRSA., as a bequest from Hutchison.The Scotsman, Thursday 9 March 1911 p9 col1: Royal Scottish Academy: Works of art This portrait was originally done in exchange for a sculpted head of Orchardson by Hutchison.
Career Training Hutchison lived, worked and died in Edinburgh. However his apprenticeship from age thirteen as a wood carver was served in a workshop on the top floor of a tenement (since demolished) on Edinburgh High Street near John Knox's Corner.Aberdeen Press and Journal, Tuesday 24 May 1910 p5 col2: Obituary: Mr John Hutchison RSA This involved work on the estate at Hospitalfield Trust, Arbroath 1849 to 1853 under the sculptor James Christie. At Hospitalfield he had the patronage of architect Patrick Allan Fraser who gave him commissions to fund his studies in Rome. Hutchison later became one of the Trustees of the Hospitalfield Trust. As an apprentice he also took evening classes in decorative relief and modelling,Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, Tuesday 24 May 1910 p8 col4: Mr John Hutchison before studying in the Antique and Life department under Robert Scott Lauder at the Trustees Academy, Edinburgh, from 1848. He joined its Sketching Club, and studied alongside George Paul Chalmers, John MacWhirter and William Quiller Orchardson.National Galleries Scotland: George Paul ChalmersThe Scotsman, Monday 11 February 1895 p4 col1: Art Publications In 1859–1860 and 1863 he studied in Rome under Alfred Gatty. He associated there with artists Pietro Tenerani, Giovanni Dupré, Hiram Powers, John Gibson, and Lawrence Macdonald. He was a student at the Edinburgh School of Applied Art 1894–95, when already an established sculptor. His skills were in marble, wood and bronze.Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh: Hutchison, John
Working life Hutchison's sculpture yard stood at 3 Torphicen Place in Edinburgh's West End, and he lived with his family in a large Victorian flat at 19 Manor Place, slightly to the north of his studio.Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1900–1901 He exhibited in the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) from 1856 to 1902, and became an associate of the RSA in 1862,Edinburgh Evening Courant, Thursday 13 November 1862 p2 col3: Election of associates by the Royal Scottish Academy and a member in 1867.Oxford Art Online: Hutchison JohnCaledonian Mercury, Thursday 14 February 1867 p3 col2: This morning's news He acted as Librarian to the RSA from 1877 to 1886, and one of his early tasks was to arrange and classify the collection of prints bequeathed by David Laing. He was Honorary Treasurer from 1886 to 1907. On his retirement, he was presented with a silver hot-water jug and a Georgian silver salver in respect of their esteem, and his "long and devoted interest" in the academy. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1862. Hutchison was involved in an early usage of tintype photographs in the Courts, used to prove the death of the late Earl of Aberdeen and to allow for his brother to succeed the title. The petitioner Campbell Gordon wished to prove that his brother, Earl George Gordon, had travelled to America and enrolled as mate on the ship Hera under the name of George H. Osborne, then drowned at sea. Photographs of George taken in Scotland, and in America under his new name, were to be compared by artists as expert witnesses, and Hutchison was asked to be one of these.Dundee Courier, Wednesday 28 June 1871 p4 col2: The earldom of Aberdeen, interlocutor The Times said that he specialised in figures from "Scottish history and romance" and memorials of Scottish priests. By 1908, Hutchison has retired from the Royal Scottish Academy's exhibition "active list", implying that he had retired from creating public works.The Scotsman, Tuesday 14 January 1908 p5 col4: Royal Scottish Academy, forthcoming exhibition
Works Early work
Hutchison's first public work was executed in 1852, when he was twenty years old, for Patrick Allan Fraser HRSA. He "executed the woodcarvings and other decorations in relief for the picture gallery then in course of erection in Hospitalfield." The architect Fraser spent some years on this build, which provided much work for artisans. His other 1850s works included: Portrait Medallion (1856), his first of many entries in the Scottish Royal Academy's exhibitions. The next to be exhibited was the József Katona character Melinda (1857), then Bust of a Gentleman (1858), Bust of J.B. Macdonald, Esq. (1859), the Coleridge character Genevieve (1859) and the "colossal bust" of Harald Hardrada (1859) for Lord Dufferin's Clandeboye Estate.
After studying in Rome By 1860, Hutchison had trained in Rome, and in October of that year was appointed teacher of ornamental modelling at the Watt Institution and School of Arts.Caledonian Mercury, Tuesday 30 October 1860 p4 col1: Watt Institution and School of Arts He concentrated on portraits and busts, some with ancient Roman themes. He exhibited a Bust of Lawrence Macdonald Esq., HRSA, Sculptor (1860), and of Robert Scott Lauder RSA (1859), both now in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford McWilliam and Walker In the same year he produced portraits of Dr Farquharson father of Joseph Farquharson, his friend John Phillip, Esq., RA, HRSA, and The late Sir George Harvey, PRSA. in 1861 he executed Rome and A Roman Girl. Then Biggs Andrew, Esq., QC and Don Quixote were exhibited in 1862, followed by Mrs Learmonth in 1863. He showed Fanny, Daughter of Thomas Faed, Esq., ARA, HRSA and Bonnye Kilmeny in 1864. Stella, a Roman Mother and Angelino, a Shepherd appeared in 1865. In 1866 he exhibited Mrs Richardson, and A Roman Dancing Girl.
Another 1866 work by Hutchison was Adam Black, Esq., a marble bust and precursor to the later bronze. The Scotsman was "delighted to observed the excellence of the likeness generally, and the success with which the sculptor has conveyed the mingled expression of firmness and sagacity so characteristic of the original."Inverness Courier, Thursday 5 October 1865 p3 col5: Edinburgh: bust of Mr Adam Black The Dundee Courier declared that "the composition, plain and unsophisticated, devoid of all ornament, is in harmony with and fitly symbolises the life-long character of the original."Dundee Courier, Tuesday 3 October 1865 p2 col5: "Bust of Mr Adam Black." 1867 saw the appearance of James Ballantine, part of the Ballantine Testimonial, and also A Lady, and Bust of a Lady. In 1868 he executed James Cox, Esq., Lochee and J. Whyte-Melville Esq., Bennochy, past Grand Master-Mason of Scotland. His Dante was exhibited in 1869.
Hutchison's Pasquccia, A Roman Contadina (1870), is in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Greyfriars Kirk has his Angel of the Resurrection (1870) as part of the Robert Lee memorial, and Warriston Cemetery has his Monument to Robert Scott Lauder (1870). His Tablet to Dr William Glover (1871) is at Greenside Church, Royal Terrace, and his Monument to David Allan (1874) is in Old Calton Burial Ground. He recarved the defaced portrait on the monument to William Carstares (d.1727) at Greyfriars Kirkyard in 1876.The Scotsman, Monday 15 May 1876 p4 col6: Monument of Principal Carstares During this decade he created two monumental statues: Adam Black (1877) in Princes Street Gardens and Robert the Bruce (1879) which is on Lochmaben High Street, Dumfries and Galloway; his birthplace. The latter shows Bruce holding court at the 1320 Great Convention of Estates, at Arbroath.Illustrated London News, Saturday 20 September 1879 p19 col2: A statue of Bruce
Increasing reputation Hutchison's increasing reputation is reflected in the number of larger commissions he received in the 1870s. They include statues, monuments and a bronze door. He began with Coll Macdonald Macdonald (1870), and James Falshaw, Esq., Forfar (1871). There was more work available in 1873, with The Earl of Dalhousie, KT, GCB, The late Archibald Watson Goldie, Esq., WS, Nina, a Roman study, Peter Reid, Esq., Forfar, Mrs Lockhart Thomson, The late Sir James Y. Simpson, Bt, MD etc., Emmie, Mrs James Ballantine, and The late William Glover, DD.
In 1874 Hutchison produced The Glee Maiden from the Fair Maid of Perth, Katie, daughter of John MacLaren, Esq., Advocate, Sheriff in Chancery, and James Salmon, Esq., Architect, Glasgow, while still perhaps preparing for the 1877 bronze, with The late Adam Black, Esq. 1875 may have been taken up with this bronze, because he only exhibited Reverend Alexander Duff, DD, LLD in that year and in 1876 he had little time for anything else. In 1877 he was free to execute The late George Dalziel, Esq., John Clerk Brodie, Esq., and the 17-foot centennial monument to James Carmichael, engineer & inventor of the fan blast, unveiled in Albert Square, Dundee on 17 June. Carmichael sits reading a plan, with his inventions pictured on the plinth.Illustrated London News, Saturday 24 June 1876 p21 col1: A bronze statue In the same year he made the Design for an alter-tomb now being erected in marble, and a Bronze Door of Mausoleum, perspective view. In 1878 he again exhibited a version of The late Adam Black; also Duncan McLaren, Esq., MP, and A Young Lady. In 1879 he showed A Portrait, Henry Simpson Esq., Rev. George R. Davidson, DD, and The late William Jenkyns, MA, killed in defence of the British Residency, Cabul.