Stevens, ALFRED

Stevens, ALFRED, decorative artist and sculptor, was born at Blandford in Dorset, the son of a country painter, in January (baptised on 28th) 1818. When he was helping his father his talent attracted the attention of certain gentlemen, who in 1833 sent him to Italy. There he remained nearly nine years studying painting, though part of the time he assisted Thorwaldsen, the sculptor, in his studio. Three years after his return home Stevens was appointed (1845) teacher of architectural drawing in the School of Design, Somerset House, London; but he held the position only three years. During the next ten years or so from that date he was busily engaged in designing and decorating, in which he displayed the highest genius and taste. He designed in all sorts of materials and for many different purposes—in silver, bronze, iron, marble, and for furniture, churches, porcelain, mantelpieces. From 1856 he laboured at the great achievement of his life, and one of the finest pieces of modelling in England in the 19th century, the monument of Wellington for St Paul's Cathedral; but owing to the greatness of his conception and plan, the inadequacy of means, and other difficulties, it was not completed at his death, which took place at Haverstock Hill, London, on 1st May 1875. It was not till 1892 that steps were taken to remove this magnificent monument from the side chapel, where it was half-hidden, to the place for which it was originally intended. See SCULPTURE, p. 267; and H. Stannus, Alfred Stevens and his Work (1892).