James Milo Griffith
Encyclopedia
James Milo Griffith was a Welsh
sculptor, who after originally training as an artisan mason, became notable for his memorial statues.
in 1843. During the restoration of Llandaff Cathedral
, undertaken by Welsh architect John Prichard
, Griffith was apprenticed by the Bishop of Llandaff
as an artisan stonemason. At the age of twenty, Griffith was admitted to Royal Academy Schools in London.
Griffith produced several works placed on public view, notably on the Holborn Viaduct
and Bristol Cathedral
. In 1875 his work Summer Flowers was bought by Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot
and displayed at Margam Castle
. Two of Griffith's most notable works are both publicly displayed statues, to John Batchelor in Cardiff and to Sir Hugh Owen in Caernarvon.
Griffith later moved the United States and became a professor of arts in San Francisco. He returned to London in 1896 and died there in 1897.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
sculptor, who after originally training as an artisan mason, became notable for his memorial statues.
Life history
Griffith was born in Pontseli, PembrokeshirePembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
in 1843. During the restoration of Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, head of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff. It is situated in the district of Llandaff in the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The current building was constructed in the 12th century over the site of an earlier church...
, undertaken by Welsh architect John Prichard
John Prichard
John Prichard was a Welsh architect of the neo-Gothic style. John Prichard was the son of Richard Prichard a rector from Llangan, Glamorgan and was born on 6 May 1817. He established a practice in Llandaff, Cardiff where he became the diocesan architect. Between 1852 and 1863 he set up a...
, Griffith was apprenticed by the Bishop of Llandaff
Bishop of Llandaff
The Bishop of Llandaff is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff.-Area of authority:The diocese covers most of the County of Glamorgan. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul , in the village of Llandaff, just north-west of the City of...
as an artisan stonemason. At the age of twenty, Griffith was admitted to Royal Academy Schools in London.
Griffith produced several works placed on public view, notably on the Holborn Viaduct
Holborn Viaduct
Holborn Viaduct is a bridge in London and the name of the street which crosses it . It links Holborn, via Holborn Circus, with Newgate Street in the City of London, passing over Farringdon Street and the now subterranean River Fleet.It was built between 1863 and 1869, at a cost of over two million...
and Bristol Cathedral
Bristol Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity is the Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England, and is commonly known as Bristol Cathedral...
. In 1875 his work Summer Flowers was bought by Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot
Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot
Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot FRS was a landowner, industrialist and Liberal politician. He developed his estate at Margam near Swansea as an extensive ironworks, served by railways and a port, which was re-named Port Talbot.-Early life:Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot was born at Penrice, Swansea,...
and displayed at Margam Castle
Margam Castle
Margam Castle is a large mansion house built in Margam, Port Talbot, Wales, for the Talbot family. It was built on a site which had been occupied for some 4000 years and from the 11th century was an abbey. The "castle" is actually a comfortable Victorian era country house, one of many "mock" or...
. Two of Griffith's most notable works are both publicly displayed statues, to John Batchelor in Cardiff and to Sir Hugh Owen in Caernarvon.
Griffith later moved the United States and became a professor of arts in San Francisco. He returned to London in 1896 and died there in 1897.