John Hutchison

John Hutchison (1 June 1832 – 23 May 1910) was a Scottish sculptor based in Edinburgh. He was the son of an unnamed builder, and his artistic life began as a thirteen-year-old woodcarving apprentice. He attended art school in the evenings, then later became a student at the Trustees Academy. and attracted the patronage of its owner, Patrick Allan Fraser, who gave him commissions to fund his study in Rome. Although after Rome he continued to enjoy ancient Roman sculptural themes, he remained in Edinburgh for the rest of his life, working in wood, clay and marble, and concentrating on portraiture of Scottish people, and images of Scottish myth and history. He created the bust of Sir Walter Scott in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey. He was a successful artist who received commissions from Queen Victoria. Background Hutchison's father was an Edinburgh builder. He was born in Laurieston, in north-west Edinburgh. In 1895 he was left £1,000 by James Cowan. He married Margaret Ballantine (1839–1875) on 28 June 1870 in Edinburgh. Margaret was the daughter of poet James Ballantine and Margaret Peat. Hutchison's daughter Henrietta (1871–1933) married Andrew Paterson Melville and became a Justice of the Peace. Hutchison retired in 1907 and spent much time reading. When his lifelong friend Orchardson died in April 1910, "it told very seriously upon him. He lost his old interest in life, and his strength under the blow gradually gave way." Hutchison died on 23 May 1910 in Edinburgh after a week's illness, and is buried in Grange Cemetery, in the northern half of its SE section, alongside his wife Margaret. In 1911 The Royal Scottish Academy received Hutchison's portrait by Sir William Quiller Orchardson, R.A., HRSA., as a bequest from Hutchison. This portrait was originally done in exchange for a sculpted head of Orchardson by Hutchison. Career Training Hutchison lived, worked and died in Edinburgh. However his apprenticeship from age thirteen as a wood carver was served in a workshop on the top floor of a tenement (since demolished) on Edinburgh High Street near John Knox's Corner. This involved work on the estate at Hospitalfield Trust, Arbroath 1849 to 1853 under the sculptor James Christie. At Hospitalfield he had the patronage of architect Patrick Allan Fraser who gave him commissions to fund his studies in Rome. Hutchison later became one of the Trustees of the Hospitalfield Trust.