Alexander Handyside Ritchie (16 April 1804 – 24 April 1870) was a Scottish sculptor born in Musselburgh in 1804, the son of James Ritchie, a local brickmaker and ornamental plasterer, and his wife Euphemia. The father in turn was the son of a fisherman and amateur sculptor.
Ritchie was born in Musselburgh in 1804. After studying architecture he turned to sculpture. In 1823 he studied under Samuel Joseph at the Edinburgh School of Arts. He briefly also studied anatomy at Dr. John Barclay's Anatomy School in 1822. He studied in Rome under Bertel Thorvaldsen (1826-1830), under the sponsorship of Walter, 5th Duke of Buccleuch. A favourite of Thorvaldsen he was awarded a gold medal under his tutorship. In 1830 he returned to Musselburgh where he held a studio for 12 years, then opened a sculpture studio at 92 Princes Street, Edinburgh in 1842. He had a yard at 4 East Broughton Place where most of the work was done.[1] Ritchie trained other sculptors such as John Rhind here.
He was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1846. In 1854, he moved his studio to Mound Place in the centre of Edinburgh, living nearby at 92 Princes Street.[2] He retired in 1861, but maintained a studio at Coates Place in Edinburgh, where he held a final exhibition in 1862. He returned to his family home at Herkes Loan, Musselburgh and spent his final years in the care of his sister Euphemia. He had no wish for riches and they lived frugally.
He died on 24 April 1870, leaving £6 10s 6d in his will. He is buried in the churchyard of St Michael in Inveresk just outside Musselburgh. He lies to the east side of the south entrance path, facing away from the path. He had no family and the grave is very humble. It is marked as being erected by his "brother sculptors WB and JR" presumed to be William Brodie and John Rhind.
It is presumed he was descended from the local farming family, the Handasydes, of whom Archibald Handasyde was a stonemason responsible for the carving of a sundial on the session house of St. Michaels in 1785.[3]
Figures on the tympanum of the Commercial Bank, Glasgow (1846) including three figures of children highly praised by the "Art Union".
Monumental figures on the head of six corinthian columns at 39 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh (built as the British Linen Bank 1846). In Baalbec fashion, representing Navigation, Commerce, Manufacture, Science, Art and Agriculture.
Pedimental sculpture on the Commercial Bank, 14 George Street, Edinburgh (later the Royal Bank of Scotland, latterly "The Dome") (1844–47). Caledonia flanked by Prudence, Agriculture, Commerce, Enterprise, Mechanical Science and Learning.
Monument to James Reoch (d.1845) within South Leith Parish Church (1848). Portrait head flanked by Charity and Justice.
Commission for a "colossal nude statue" for Peter Denny, Provost of Dumbarton resulting in a second trip to Rome to study (1854). Possibly never executed. If existing its location is unknown.
^Buildings of Scotland: Lothian by Colin McWilliam
Further readingedit
Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford McWilliam and Walker
Dictionary of British Sculptors, 1660–1851, by Rupert Gunnis
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alexander Handyside Ritchie.
30 artworks by or after Alexander Handyside Ritchie at the Art UK site
January 01, 1970
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Alexander Handyside Ritchie news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message Alexander Handyside Ritchie 16 April 1804 24 April 1870 was a Scottish sculptor born in Musselburgh in 1804 the son of James Ritchie a local brickmaker and ornamental plasterer and his wife Euphemia The father in turn was the son of a fisherman and amateur sculptor Contents 1 Life 2 List of Works 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksLife edit nbsp John Henning seated and Alexander Handyside Ritchie standing from the National Portrait Gallery by David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson Ritchie was born in Musselburgh in 1804 After studying architecture he turned to sculpture In 1823 he studied under Samuel Joseph at the Edinburgh School of Arts He briefly also studied anatomy at Dr John Barclay s Anatomy School in 1822 He studied in Rome under Bertel Thorvaldsen 1826 1830 under the sponsorship of Walter 5th Duke of Buccleuch A favourite of Thorvaldsen he was awarded a gold medal under his tutorship In 1830 he returned to Musselburgh where he held a studio for 12 years then opened a sculpture studio at 92 Princes Street Edinburgh in 1842 He had a yard at 4 East Broughton Place where most of the work was done 1 Ritchie trained other sculptors such as John Rhind here His brother John Ritchie assisted him on some works working from the same studio He also worked with and trained John Rhind Alexander Munro and George Anderson Lawson He was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1846 In 1854 he moved his studio to Mound Place in the centre of Edinburgh living nearby at 92 Princes Street 2 He retired in 1861 but maintained a studio at Coates Place in Edinburgh where he held a final exhibition in 1862 He returned to his family home at Herkes Loan Musselburgh and spent his final years in the care of his sister Euphemia He had no wish for riches and they lived frugally He died on 24 April 1870 leaving 6 10s 6d in his will He is buried in the churchyard of St Michael in Inveresk just outside Musselburgh He lies to the east side of the south entrance path facing away from the path He had no family and the grave is very humble It is marked as being erected by his brother sculptors WB and JR presumed to be William Brodie and John Rhind It is presumed he was descended from the local farming family the Handasydes of whom Archibald Handasyde was a stonemason responsible for the carving of a sundial on the session house of St Michaels in 1785 3 List of Works editBust of Sir John Hope exhibited at RSA 1825 Bust of Thorwaldsen exhibited at RSA 1830 Bust of Joseph Hume 1830 National Museum of Scotland Monument to Charles Marjoribanks at Coldstream 1836 Bust of the Countess of Lincoln exhibited at the RA 1837 Statuary on Edinburgh s Central Public Library 1837 with John Tablet to Rev John Patterson Falkirk Church 1838 Statue of Sir Walter Scott in Selkirk 1839 Ronaldson memorial East Preston Street Burial Ground Edinburgh c 1840 Statue over entrance of 3 George IV Bridge Edinburgh Caledonia and Her Children 1840 Statue of Mr Ferguson of Raith at Dirlton Haddington 1843 Memorial to Rev David Dickson at base of the west tower of St Cuthbert s Church Edinburgh 1844 Statuary group Sophropia and Olinda at the Stake exhibited at Westminster Hall 1844 Statuary on Royal College of Physicians Queen Street Edinburgh 1844 Corinthian aedicule bearing a figure of Hygeia flanked by statues of Hippocrates and Aesculapius Figure of Charles Edward Stuart Bonny Prince Charlie 1844 for the inaugural opening of the Scott Monument 1846 Figures on the tympanum of the Commercial Bank Glasgow 1846 including three figures of children highly praised by the Art Union Monumental figures on the head of six corinthian columns at 39 St Andrew Square Edinburgh built as the British Linen Bank 1846 In Baalbec fashion representing Navigation Commerce Manufacture Science Art and Agriculture Figures of Eustace de Vescy and William de Mowbray two signators of Magna Carta for the Chamber of the House of Lords at Westminster Hall under the supervision of John Thomas 1847 Pedimental sculpture on the Commercial Bank 14 George Street Edinburgh later the Royal Bank of Scotland latterly The Dome 1844 47 Caledonia flanked by Prudence Agriculture Commerce Enterprise Mechanical Science and Learning Monument to James Reoch d 1845 within South Leith Parish Church 1848 Portrait head flanked by Charity and Justice Restoration of carvings on John Knox s House on the Royal Mile Edinburgh 1850 Statue of Queen Victoria for Holyrood Palace 1851 Monument to John Henry Alexander actor and theatre owner Glasgow Necropolis 1851 Lions for Hamilton Mausoleum 1852 Statue of Sir Robert Peel in Montrose 1852 Statue of Dr David Macbeth Moir Delta Moir on Musselburgh High St 1853 Monument to Colonel James Gardiner mortally wounded at the Battle of Prestonpans near Bankton House Prestonpans 1853 Commission for a colossal nude statue for Peter Denny Provost of Dumbarton resulting in a second trip to Rome to study 1854 Possibly never executed If existing its location is unknown Figures of John Knox Andrew Melville Alexander Henderson James Renwick and Ebenezer Erskine plus a glass covered monument to commemorate the Covenanters Margaret and Agnes Wilson all in Valley Cemetery Stirling 1858 known as the Martyr s Monument Statue of Hugh Miller at Cromarty 1858 Statue of William Wallace at Stirling 1858 Fishermen s Memorial at Dunbar Harbour 1861 Heads of Time Death and Eternity for Hamilton Mausoleum 1863 post retiral nbsp The tomb of John Henry Alexander by Handyside Ritchie Glasgow Necropolis nbsp Monument to Rev Dickson St Cuthberts Churchyard Edinburgh by A H Ritchie nbsp Statues by A H Ritchie St Andrew Square Edinburgh nbsp Martyr s Monument Valley Cemetery Stirling nbsp Ebenezer Erskine monument Stirling nbsp Grave of Alexander Handyside Ritchie St Michael s InvereskReferences edit Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1845 Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1850 Buildings of Scotland Lothian by Colin McWilliamFurther reading editBuildings of Scotland Edinburgh by Gifford McWilliam and Walker Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660 1851 by Rupert GunnisExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alexander Handyside Ritchie 30 artworks by or after Alexander Handyside Ritchie at the Art UK site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Handyside Ritchie amp oldid 1218499569, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
