Postby dognose » Sun May 30, 2010 6:09 am
Interesting extract from a letter written in 1821 that provides some detail of William Mossop Jnr's life.
" I was born in Dublin, 1788 ; my studies in the Fine Arts were commenced in 1802, at the Academy of the Dublin Society under the care of Mr. Francis West, then Master of the Figure School; the progress that I made there not satisfying, I was placed among the private pupils of Mr. West, where I continued till my father's death, in 1804, left me, at the age of sixteen, very inadequately prepared to commence the practice of my art. The difficulties that were opposed to my improvement by such circumstances have in some measure continued to retard my progress, and may be urged with truth in palliation of the many faults of my works. Feeling in a short period of experience the importance of a thorough knowledge of drawing, I endeavoured to supply myself with such an advantage by resuming, in 1805, my studies under Mr. West. I regret much, however, not being able to carry my wish into more complete effect, and although every day I feel that advantage of the little I have learned, yet there is still but too much to be regretted on this subject. The first medallic work produced by me is the medal used by the Incorporated Society for promoting Charter Schools in Ireland: it was commenced a short time previous to my father's death, and finished immediately after. My next work was the medal to commemorate the fiftieth year of his late Majesty's reign, which was finished in 1810. This year I visited London, but my stay was short, and I was so bewildered by the number of objects that surrounded me, that even in that short time I did not derive all the advantage that I might have done. The list contains the date at which each medal was struck, and will fill up the remaining part of this account, save only that in 1813 I obtained a premium from the Society of Arts, Adelphi, for a medal die, that has been since purchased by the Feinaglian Institution. In 1814 I obtained another premium for a head of Vulcan, engraved in compliance with an advertisement of that Society."
Source: A History of the City of Dublin. Volume 2. By John Thomas Gilbert - 1859
Trev.
.
