Mary Thornycroft
Mary Thornycroft (born Francis; * 1814 in Thornham , † February 1, 1895 in London ) was an English sculptor.
Thornycroft, a daughter of the sculptor John Francis (1780–1861), was modeling in her father's studio from an early age. Some of her first works were a Penelope and an Odysseus with his dog, but she only had her first major success with the statue of a flower girl. In 1842 she traveled to Rome with her husband Thomas Thornycroft (1815–1885), continued her education under Bertel Thorvaldsen and John Gibson and created a Sappho and a sleeping child there. Upon her return, she was initially commissioned with numerous portrait statues from the court, including a statue of Princess Alice , the Crown Princess of Prussia, the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred and the five graceful marble statues of the other princes and princesses in Osborne House .
Thomas and Mary Thornycroft are the parents of the engineer and industrialist Sir John Isaac Thornycroft (1843–1928) and grandparents of the motorboat driver and two-time Olympic champion Thomas Thornycroft (1881–1955).
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Thornycroft, Mary |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Francis, Mary (maiden name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | English sculptress |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1814 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Thornham |
| DATE OF DEATH | February 1, 1895 |
| Place of death | London |