Matthew Noble
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Matthew Noble (1818–1876) was a British sculptor, born in Hackness, near Scarborough. He was the the son of a stonemason and served his apprenticeship under his father. He left Yorkshire for London when quite young, there he studied under John Francis (the father of Mary Thornycroft, the sculptress). Exhibiting regularly at the Royal Academy from 1845 until his death, Noble became recognised after winning the competition to construct the Wellington Monument in Manchester in 1856. Never being in overly good health, Noble passed away quite young in 1876 at the age of 56. His uncompleted works were finished by his assistant, J. Edwards.
Noble's works in London include:
- Franklin in Waterloo Place
- Peel and Derby in Parliament Square
- James McGrigor in the small garden to the Royal Army Medical College
- 3 statues at the back of the Royal Academy
- James Outram on the Embankment
- Admiral Lord Lyons in St Paul's Cathedral
His work was not only restricted to London. Throughout England (Manchester, Salford, Leeds, Liverpool and Tamworth) works by Noble can be found portraying Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Peel, Cromwell, Wellington, Cobden and Brotherton.
Many churches also hold works by Noble. In St Peter's Church, Hacknes is Noble's monument to the mother of John Johnstone, his first benefactor. He produced many other church monuments, some of which can be found in Westminster Abbey and York Minster as well as many that were sent to many contries that were part of the then british empire.
