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Historical Artist - Edward Hodges Baily (1788 - 1867)
Edward Hodges Baily was born in Bristol and first studied under Flaxman before entering the
Royal Academy. He was a prolific public sculptor having a piece in Trafalgar Square and
Grey’s Monument in Newcastle. Baily also produced portrait busts and church monuments.
Despite his successful career, Baily spent his earnings frivolously and died in bankruptcy.
His father, who was a celebrated carver of figureheads for ships, destined him for a commercial
life, but even at school the boy showed his natural taste and talents by producing numerous wax
models and busts of his schoolfellows. At the age of fourteen Baily was placed in a mercantile
house, where he worked for the next two years, though he still felt a strong leaning towards his
artistic abilities.
At the age of sixteen he abandoned his commercial career and began executing portraits in wax.
Two Homeric studies, executed for a friend, were shown to John Flaxman, who bestowed on them
such high commendation that in 1807 Baily came to London and placed himself as a pupil under the
great sculptor. In 1809 he entered the Royal Academy Schools.
Contemporary United Kingdom Artists
Art Galleries in the United Kingdom
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