WYATT. MATTHEW COATES WYATT, the third son of James, was born in 1806,—a sculptor of great eminence. His principal work is the monument to the Princess Charlotte, at the Royal Chapel at Windsor; the group of St George and the Dragon, also at that place; the bronze equestrian statue of George the Third, at Pall Mall East, statue of Nelson at Liverpool, and the large bronze statue of Wellington on the marble arch at Hyde Park. One of his sons is Sir MATTHEW WYATT, the Standard-bearer to the Gentlemen-at-Arms. Another, JAMES WYATT, also a sculptor, whose chief works are, a Nymph, with Festoon of Flowers, in the possession of the Marquis of Westminster; a Nymph coming out of a Bath, for Mr Wyld; Flora and Zephyrus, for Lord Wenlock; and a Nymph of Diana, in the possession of the King of Naples.
LEWIS WILLIAM WYATT was the second son of Benjamin Wyatt of Limegrove, who was fifth son of Benjamin Wyatt of Blackbrook, and, of course, nephew to James Wyatt, whose pupil he was. He was an architect of eminence, and held that appointment to the crown and board of ordnance, and executed many works at Hampton Court, Kew, and Richmond. He built houses for Lord Forrester, for Mr Legh, at Lyme; for Mr Egerton, at Tatton; Lord Wilton, at Heaton, &c. He retired early in life to his estate, at Park Pool, near Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, and died there, in February 1851, aged 76.
Sir JEFFERY WYATTVILLE was the son of Joseph, and grandson of Benjamin Wyatt of Blackbrook. He was born on the 3d August 1766, at Burton-on-Trent, where his father practised as an architect, and is said to have been possessed of much talent, though of an indolent temperament. His son, however, was of a very different spirit. He was educated at the public school at Burton; but at twelve years of age, he ran away to sea. Being pursued and brought back, he did the same again shortly after. It is said he made another ineffectual attempt to get to sea, when his uncle Samuel took him under his protection, and he was in his office for seven years, during which time the buildings we have before mentioned were executed. In fact, he always claimed a large share in the designs of the Trinity House. After this time, the other and more celebrated uncle, James, also took him into his office, where he remained a considerable time, and where he is said first to have attracted the notice of the Prince of Wales, afterwards George IV. About the year 1799 he seems to have been engaged, like his uncle, both as builder and architect in a very extensive way. In the year 1824, he was successful in a limited competition for the new works at Windsor Castle against Nash and Smirke, and immediately relinquished any share in the building business. About this time, also, he was elected a Royal Academician. The works at Windsor, the cost of which ultimately exceeded three quarters of a million of money, now occupied the greater part of his time. Four years after their commencement, however, his Majesty, in taking possession of his private apartments, conferred the honour of knighthood on his architect, changing his name to Wyattville, and giving him an honourable augmentation to his arms. Besides large alterations to Badminton, Woburn Abbey, Emsleigh, Chatsworth, Longleat, Sidney Sussex College, &c., he built the houses at Lillieshall, Golden Grove, Nonsuch, Wimborne, Claverton, and a large number of others; in fact, he is said to have left some remarkable work behind him in thirty-five out of the forty English counties, without reckoning Wales. He died in London, 18th February 1840, and is buried at Windsor, in St George's Chapel. A splendid edition of his favourite work was published after his decease, edited by Henry Ashton, in large folio.
Returning now to another branch descending from the common ancestor, John Wyatt of Thickbroom, through William of Scarny Park, and Thomas of Bole Hall, we must now notice MATTHEW WYATT, of the Inner Temple, the well known active magistrate of the Lambeth Street Police Court.
His sons are, first, THOMAS HENRY WYATT, the eminent architect, whose principal works are, the fine basilican church at Wilton, the Adelphi Theatre, the Lunatic Asylums for Wilts and Bucks, the Law Courts at Devizes, Brecon, and Cambridge; the Birkenhead Training College; the Railway Terminus at Florence; a large Palace in the Crimea for Count Woronzow, and very many other works. Another son is MATTHEW DIGBY WYATT, architect to the East India Company, Fellow of the Royal Society, of the Society of Antiquaries, of the Institute of Architects (of which he was secretary); that of the Engineers, the Society of Arts, and many other societies. His principal works are, the Post-office at Calcutta, several bridges in India; that in St James's Park; the new Museum for the India Company; the Pompeian, Byzantine, Medieval, Renaissance, and Italian Courts at the Crystal Palace. He is also the author of many valuable treatises, the last of which is the beautiful work, The Art of Illuminating.
In another collateral branch, we find the name of RICHARD JAMES WYATT, perhaps one of the most distinguished of the artists
of the day. He was born on the 3d May 1795, and, having shown Wycherley, great talent, was articulated as pupil to Charles Rossi, R.A., and studied also at the Royal Academy, where he obtained two medals. He appears to have had an early veneration for the works of Canova. When that distinguished sculptor was in England, he was introduced to him by Sir Thomas Lawrence, who had a warm admiration for Wyatt's talent. A friendship grew up between the two sculptors, and the great Italian pressed him to come to Rome, where he promised he should have the use of his studio, and any help he could afford him. After studying some little time at Paris under Rosso, he proceeded to Rome, where he remained for thirty years, only visiting England once during the whole time. His principal works are, Penelope, with the Bow of Ulysses, now in possession of her Majesty; the Statue of the Queen, at Windsor; Musidors, for the Duke of Devonshire; Ino, with Bacchus, for Sir Robert Peel; Glycera, Flora, and Venus; a Shepherd Boy protecting his Sister during a Storm, &c. &c. His sculpture has a life and grace about it that few English chisels have attained to, and has done much to raise the character of English art in the eyes of the world. He died, almost suddenly, at Rome, on the 28th of May 1850, and was interred there, the funeral being attended by all the lovers of art, both English and Italian. (A. A.)