Richard Cockle Lucas RA

Born 24 October 1800
Died 18 May 1883

Active: 1829 - 1859

Country of birth and death: England

Sculptor, wax modeller, medallist, ivory carver, photographer, illustrator

Born in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Lucas was initially apprenticed as a cutler to his uncle, but decided to become a sculptor after learning to carve knife handles. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1828 where he studied under Sir Richard Westmacott. Lucas was a versatile artist working a variety of media, including painting, photography, and illustration as well as sculpture. He received a number of important commissions for funerary monuments and public statues, however, he is best known for his small scale models and ivory carvings. Lucas's interests included ancient monuments and he made two models of the Parthenon (acquired by the British Museum) as well as publishing his findings (1845). In 1865, he secured a civil list pension of £150 p.a. in return for gifting a number of works to the South Kensington Museum. Lucas died at Tower of the Winds, Chilworth, near Romsey (now Southampton), Hampshire.

This record includes information submitted by Vicki Harding regarding the location of the Tower of the Winds from 'John Arlott writes of Richard Cockle Lucas and his Flora' in 'Hampshire', March 1963, pp. 13-14. There is a further reference to this building in 'Childhood country by Doris White' in 'Hampshire', December 1992, pp.36-38.

Wealth at death: £573 6s. 6d.
Resworn probate
Probate date: August 1883

Citing this record

'Richard Cockle Lucas RA', 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=msib4_1240930154, accessed 02 Jun 2023]