John Rhind (sculptor)

John Rhind ARSA (1828–1892) was a Scottish sculptor, based in Edinburgh. He was born in Banff the son of a master mason. He was trained under Alexander Handyside Ritchie^[1] (1804–1870). He served this apprenticeship in a yard at 4 East Broughton Place.^[2]

He was master of the masonic lodge on Hill Street in Edinburgh from 1864 to 1868.^[3]

He lived his final years at "St Helens" on Cambridge Street, just south of Edinburgh Castle.^[4]

He died on 5 April 1892 a few days after being elected an Associate of the RSA, and is buried in Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh, with a monument by his son John Massey Rhind. The grave lies just off the main southern path, near its centre, facing east on a north-south path.

He was the father of the sculptors William Birnie Rhind and J. Massey Rhind, and of the architect Sir Thomas Duncan Rhind.

Works[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (February 2011)

• Portrait heads (Victoria, Albert, James Watt, Charles Darwin, Michelangelo, and Sir Isaac Newton), National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh (1859)
• Carving on West Bow Well, Grassmarket, Edinburgh, (1861).
• Sculpture of a head over Paisley Close on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, (1862). The inscription "Heave Awa' Chaps I'm No Dead Yet" bears reference to the words which the 14-year-old boy (Joseph McIver) depicted cried out from the rubble from a collapsed tenement on the site.
• Leith Corn Exchange frieze, Constitution Street, Leith (1863)
• Sculpture of Greek goddess Nike atop the Bank of Scotland, Bank Street, Edinburgh (1864–70)
• Sculpture at Fettes College, Edinburgh (1864–70)
• Cornice carving on 128 Princes Street, Edinburgh (1866).
• The Catherine Sinclair Monument to the north-east of Charlotte Square, Edinburgh (1866–68). This is of the Eleanor Cross style.
• Celtic cross and bronze portrait to Alexander Smith, Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh (1868) with Bronze medallion portrait by William Brodie.
• The unicorn figure on the head of the Mercat Cross on the Royal Mile, east of St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh (1869)
• Carvings at Fettes College, Edinburgh (1870)
• Purnell Family Monument, Sighthill Cemetery, Glasgow (c. 1872)
• Monument to John Buchanan, Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh (1872)
• Carving within the Bank of Scotland at 62–66 George St. Edinburgh (now "The Standing Order" public house) (1874–76).
• Biggar Memorial Fountain, Banff (1878)
• Huge monument to James Nasmyth and his family, Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh (1880)
• Font in Priestfield Church, Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh (1881).
• Several of the statue figures decorating the Scott Monument, Edinburgh (1882).
• Monument to Louisa Bingham, Countess of Wemyss in Aberlady Parish Church (1882). The recumbent effigy is described in "The Buildings of Lothian" as "chilling but pathetic nobility".
• Statue of Sir William Dick founder of the Dick Vet College in Edinburgh, within the college at Summerhall, Edinburgh (1883).
• Pulpit and font at octagonal crossing St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh (1883)
• Sculpture around the main west door of St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh (1884)
• Eight Allegorical Female Figures (1883–88), Glasgow City Chambers
• Four allegorical figures (May, Flora, Aurora and Venus) on the fireplace of the Great Hall, Edinburgh Castle.
• Statue of Sir William Chambers, Chambers Street, Edinburgh (1888–91), assisted by William Shirreffs
• Bronze medallion tablet memorial to William Hay (died 1888), St. Giles Cathedral Edinburgh (1890)
• Sculpture at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Queen Street, Edinburgh (1891)
• Portrait bust of Henry Snell Gamley (sculptor) (exhibited in RGIFA, 1892)
• Agriculture and shipbuilding reliefs, New County Hall, Paisley (c. 1892)

Gallery[edit]

• 
  Leith Corn Exchange frieze: sowing and harvesting
• 
  Leith Corn Exchange frieze: reaping and threshing
• 
  Leith Corn Exchange frieze: celebrating the harvest and shearing sheep
• 
  Leith Corn Exchange frieze: counting woolpacks and carrying imports
• 
  Leith Corn Exchange frieze: importing cereals
• 
  Rhind's statue of Wm Chambers on Chambers St Edinburgh

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Media related to John Rhind (sculptor) at Wikimedia Commons 18 artworks by or after John Rhind at the Art UK site