GRIFFITH, JAMES MILO (1843 - 1897), sculptor

Name: James Milo Griffith
Date of birth: 1843
Date of death: 1897
Gender: Male
Occupation: sculptor
Area of activity: Art and Architecture
Author: John Oliver Stephens

Born 11 June 1843 at Pont-seli, Pembrokeshire, he was apprenticed under the patronage of the bishop when Llandaff cathedral was being rebuilt. When he was twenty he was admitted to the Royal Academy school, London.

His chief works at this time were: 'The Fine Arts' on Holborn viaduct, 'The Four Evangelists' in Bristol cathedral, and the fountain at Bridgnorth. In 1875 his 'Summer Flowers' was placed in Margam castle by C. M. Talbot. On one occasion the Royal Academy accepted as many as eight of his works - the highest number admissible. He exhibited regularly at the National Eisteddfod and in 1883 delivered a notable lecture on 'The relationship between the eisteddfod and art.' His best known works are his statue of John Batchelor at Cardiff (1884) and that of Sir Hugh Owen at Caernarvon (1888). In 1885 he designed the silver shield presented to the prince and princess of Wales on their jubilee. His model of ' Sheridan's March ' attracted considerable attention in the Chicago Fair.

After having spent some time as a teacher of sculpture at San Francisco he returned to London in 1896 and died there 8 September 1897. Several of his works are in the National Museum of Wales.

Author

Published date: 1959

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