John Francis (sculptor)


John Francis was an English sculptor.

Life

Francis was born in Lincolnshire, and was intended to go into farming. He settled in London, where he became a pupil of Samuel Joseph and Francis Leggatt Chantrey. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1820 a bust of Thomas William Coke, and another of Captain Sir W. Bolton, R.N. At this period his residence was at Thornham, Norfolk. In 1822, when he sent to the Academy a bust of Horatia Nelson, he was living at 2 New Norfolk Street, Park Lane.
In 1844 he executed by command of Queen Victoria a marble bust of Albert, Prince Consort; this followed a commission a few years earlier for a bust of the Queen, which went to the hall of the Reform Club. About this period Francis moved to 56 Albany Street, Regent's Park.
He taught his daughter Mary, who married his pupil Thomas Thornycroft. Other pupils included Joseph Durham and Matthew Noble.
Francis died at his home in Albany Street, aged 80.

Works

Among his other works were: