Henry Wayte Bursill

Born 1833 (Circa)
Died 6 August 1871

Active: 1851 - 1871

Country of birth and death: England

Sculptor, medallist, modeller

Born in London. His father, George Bursill (born c.1807 in London) was a civil engineer and seems to have been the co-author of a patent with John Radford: 'Envelopes, wrappers, and covers; machinery and apparatus for the manufacture thereof. British Patent number 11948 published: 06 November 1847' published by the Great Seal Patent Offices, 1850. George Bursill lived in 'partnership' with Henry's mother Anne Wayte for thirty years and they had thirteen children together. In 1857 he deserted Anne to marry Charlotte Chapman who was thirty years his junior. Four of Henry's siblings (Emily, Clara, Frederick and George) were 'Artists in Gutta Percha'. This is a naturally occurring latex which was used in the mid-nineteenth century to create a variety of products including moulded furniture and mourning jewellery.

Henry studied at the Royal Academy between 25 April 1854 and 1863. Whilst a student he won three prizes: a Silver Medal for 'Model from the Antique - Jason' (1855); a Silver Medal for 'Model from life' (1861); and a Gold Medal for 'A Composition from the Deluge' (1863). Bursill also received a copy of Reynolds Discourses, the Lectures of Barry, Opie and Fuseli and a scholarship of £25. He is presumed to be the author of 'Hand Shadows To Be Thrown Upon The Wall: A series of novel and amusing figures formed by the hand, from original designs' (1859 and multiple editions thereafter). A further collection was published in 1860 and included instructions for: '1. A Relic of Waterloo. 2. Wellington. 3. Shakespeare. 4. Hare. 5. Mike. 6. Mike's Pig. 7. Cockatoo. 8. Fagan. 9. Bull's Head. 10. Squirrel. 11. Eagle. 12. Mrs. Gamp. 13. Sheep. 14. Wild Duck. 15. Wild Indian. 16. Mr. Punch. 17. Black Swan. 18. Young Snarler.'

Bursill's commissions included sculptures for the National Provincial Bank, Bishopsgate (architect, John Gibson FRIBA of whom Bursill created a portrait bust), 1864-5; a significant proportion of the statuary on Holborn Viaduct including bronze allegorical figures of 'Commerce' and 'Agriculture' (1867-9) as well as portrait statues in stone of Sir Thomas Gresham, Henry FitzAlwyn, Sir William Walworth, and Sir Hugh Myddleton (1869); and he was probably responsible for a pair of seated figures surmounting the former Wiltshire and Dorset Bank, Salisbury, Wiltshire, 1869. Henry died of smallpox in 1871.

This entry includes information supplied by Charmian Bursill and Andrew Potter (Library, Royal Academy of Arts, London) from 'Record of the award of prizes (premiums) to students' Royal Academy of Arts Archive ref RAA/KEE/3/1.

Wealth at death: £450 0s. 0d.
Probate date: 13 September 1871

Citing this record

'Henry Wayte Bursill', 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=msib7_1206457755, accessed 30 May 2023]