John Adams-Acton

John Adams-Acton was a British sculptor.

He was born at Acton Hill, Middlesex, the son of William Adams, a tailor, and Helen Elizabeth Humphreys. Two sons and three daughters survived the father. The second daughter, Clarissa, engaged in art and exhibited at the Royal Academy. To avoid confusion with other artists of the same name, Adams adopted in 1869 the additional surname of Acton from his birthplace.

He was educated at Lady Byron's school, Ealing, and received his first tuition as a sculptor under Timothy Butler. He subsequently worked in the studio of Matthew Noble, and during 1853-1858 he studied at the Royal Academy Schools, where his promise was liberally recognised. He won first medals in the antique and life classes, and the gold medal for an original sculpture group, Eve supplicating forgiveness at the feet of Adam, in December 1855. As a student he exhibited a medallion of Dr. Chalton in 1854, and other medallions in 1855 and 1856. In 1858, he gained the Academy's travelling studentship, and was at Rome till 1865. There his success in portraiture, to which he devoted his main efforts, excited the admiration of John Gibson, who sent many visitors to his studio.

Text courtesy of Wikipedia, 2023