William John Wills

Born May 1826 (Presumed)

Active: 1851 - 1895

Country of birth and death: England

Sculptor, modeller

Born in Islington, London and baptised on 14 May 1826. William John was son of William Wills (born c.1801 in Ashburton, Devon), plasterer. His brothers George (born c.1827 in Islington) and Thomas, with whom William John went into business, both worked in their father's trade about 1851. Another brother, Frederick (born c.1830 in St Pancras), was a modeller of maps at this date.

In 1852 William was appointed Teacher of Modelling Ornament at the National Art Training School (or Central School of Practical Art), he remained in the post until at least 1854 and possibly 1857. From about 1857 William John and Thomas worked together and exhibited jointly at the Royal Academy until 1884. William John seems to have worked as a solo practitioner on occasion because Graves (1905-6) lists him as exhibiting at the Royal Academy under his own name in 1856, 1867 and 1870. The success of their practice was based on designing and modelling drinking fountains, many for the Metropolitan Free Drinking Fountain Association, and an association with the Coalbrookdale Company, iron manufacturers. The Wills brothers may have studied at the Royal Academy Schools (Noszlopy (2003) p. 273). However, in a review of William John and Thomas's figure of 'Temperance' for the Royal Exchange fountain, London, the 'Art Journal' noted: '...they are not sculptors by profession, yet are true artists' (1 May 1861, quoted by Ward-Jackson (2003) p. 285). It is possible that the brothers received some informal training as well as advice from the sculptors, John Bell and William Theed, who were also involved with the Metropolitan Free Drinking Fountain Association.

William John and Thomas lived and worked in the St Pancras area throughout their careers. In the early 1890s they had two 'Lady Sculptors' living at their house in Gower Street together with their sister, Mary (born c.1839), who acted as housekeeper. The women sculptors were a niece, Annie M. Lander, (born c. 1868 in Teignmouth, Devon) and a boarder, Elizabeth Hutchinson (sp?) (born c.1827 in Jamaica, West Indies). These may have been pupils of the Wills brothers.

There are further details of the brothers' careers in the business entry for Wills Brothers.

The information about Wills' appointment at the National Art Training School is taken from the Second Report of the Department of Science and Art, Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, 1854-55, p. 127.

Citing this record

'William John Wills', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=ann_1262993383, accessed 26 Mar 2023]