Thomas Scheemakers
Thomas Scheemakers (1740 – 15 July 1808) was a sculptor operating in Britain in the late 18th century and a member of the important sculpting family of Scheemakers. Several of his works are held by the Victoria and Albert Museum.[1]
Life
He was the only son of Peter Scheemakers (and grandson of Pieter Scheemaeckers), an eminent sculptor, and Barbara La Fosse. He appears to have been born slightly before their wedding.
From 1763 until 1780 he largely exhibited under his father's name. Whilst talented, he was certainly eclipsed by his father, but it is reasonable to expect that they worked together on several of his father's larger pieces up until his death (1781). He was a competent sculptor but lacked his father's flair for design, often leaving the design to be done by others. After his father returned to Belgium (c.1779) he continued his workshop, on Vine Street, London.
He inherited his father's huge fortune in 1782 but appears to have largely squandered this. He did very little sculpture after his father's death and ceased altogether in 1792. It appears that he went bankrupt in 1805, as there is a record of all of his effects being sold.[2]
He died in London in 1808 and was buried in the churchyard of St Pancras Old Church. The grave is lost (and was possibly unmarked even from the beginning) and he is not listed on the Burdett-Coutts Memorial to the famous graves lost, which stands in the churchyard.
His wife, Barbara (b.1747) died in 1810 and was probably buried with him.
Works
- Monument to Sir Jemmet Raymond, Kintbury Church (1772)
- Monument to Dr Ralph Freeman, Braughing Church (1773)
- Monuments to Joseph Cockes and Mary Cockes, Eastnor Church, Herefordshire (1779)
- Monument to Thomas Bentley, Chiswick Church, London (1780, erected by his business partner, Josiah Wedgwood) wrongly attributed to his (dead) father in many sources
- Monument to Anthony Duncombe, 1st Baron Feversham, Downton Church, Wiltshire (1784)
- Monument to Mrs Mary Russell, Powick Church, Worcestershire (1786) (his masterpiece[3])
References
- Oxford dictionary of National Biography
- Dictionary of Sculptors in Britain, 1660-1851, Rupert Gunnis