Edgar George Papworth Snr
Born 20 August 1809
Died 26 September 1866
Active: 1832 - 1866
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, medallist, metal work designer
Born on 20 August 1809 probably at 30 Portland Place, Cavendish Square, London. Edgar was the son of Thomas Papworth (1773-1814) who ran a large stucco and plastering business and grandson of John Papworth (1750-1799) who was a leading stuccoist. His uncle was the architect, John Buonarotti Papworth. Edgar studied at the Royal Academy Schools 1826-34 and was a pupil of Edward Hodges Baily. He married his master's daughter, Caroline in 1831. Their son, Edgar (born 1832) went on to become a successful sculptor and the work of father and son is sometimes confused.
In 1834 Papworth won the Royal Academy travelling scholarship and went to Italy where he worked until 1837. On his return to England, Papworth established a practice in London and exhibited statues, busts and designs for funerary monuments at the Royal Academy. His attempts to secure major commissions were often unsuccessful and this, together with financial mismanagement, led to difficulties in later life. Papworth died at 36 Milton Street, Dorset Square, London.
Wealth at death: £100 0s. 0d.
Probate date: 27 November 1866
Works
Dates are usually the year a work was exhibited so may differ from date of production.
New entries have been made each time a work was exhibited. Click here for more information.
Cupid and a swan
1851
Cupid in disguise
1851 (Presumed)
Sketch for a statue of Wordsworth
1852 (Presumed)
William Dyce, RA
1898
Locations
Address 17 Newman Street Oxford Street London | View on map
1847 - 1855
Address 90 Milton Street London | View on map
1856 - 1866
Address 30 Milton Street Dorset Square London | View on map
1865 (Circa)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at The International Exhibition, London, 1862
'The Young Emigrant'
Exhibited at Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1898
Multiple works
Exhibited at Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations (London), 1851
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The Eighty-Fourth, 1852
Multiple works
Exhibited at International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures, Dublin, 1865
p. 111, no. 206. 'Bust of Captain Burton' - plaster.
p. 111, no. 208. ' The Young Shrimper' - plaster.
p. 111, no. 209. 'The Young Emigrant' - plaster.
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1832 - 1866
Exhibited 30 times (16 times from 1851), number of works varied widely between 1 and 5 from year to year.
Exhibited at The Royal Scottish Academy Exhibition, 1826-
1865
Exhibited at the annual exhibition 1 time: 1865 (1 work).
Institutional and Business Connections
Member of Institute of British Sculptors
1861 (Circa)
Either he or his son was a member
Personal and Professional Connections
Mother/father/parent of Edgar George Papworth Jnr
Niece/nephew of George Papworth
Pupil of Edward Hodges Baily
In the late 1820s and early 1830s
Related to Edward Hodges Baily
1831
Papworth married Baily's daughter, Caroline (d. 1867)
Descriptions of Practice
Listed under Sculptors Post Office London Directory, 1860 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
'Sculptor' (employing two servants)
Sources
A Biographical Dictionary of Sculptors in Britain, 1660-1851
2009
pp. 940-3
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Ninth Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1898
October 1898
p. 51
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
2005
HO107 piece 1486 folio 793 page 8
Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, 1851
Official Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue
1851
p. 844 (27 and 28)
International exhibition 1862, official catalogue, fine art department
1862
List of Members: Institute of British Sculptors (or Sculptor's Institute)
2008 (Circa)
Official Catalogue of Dublin International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures 1865
1865
p. 111, no. 206. 'Bust of Captain Burton' - plaster.
p. 111, no. 208. ' The Young Shrimper' - plaster.
p. 111, no. 209. 'The Young Emigrant' - plaster.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
2004
Mark Stocker, ‘Papworth, Edgar George (1809–1866)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/21252, accessed 13 Jan 2010]
Post Office London Directory, 1860 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1860
p.1803
Rules of the Institute of Sculptors
1861
p. iv
Citing this record
'Edgar George Papworth Snr', 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=msib6_1245338555, accessed 02 Jun 2023]
