Transcript

of

John Weston, Sculptor, Exon.

Devon & Cornwall Notes and Queries vol. IX, (January 1916 to January 1917), p. 3.

by

Beatrix F. Cresswell

Prepared by Michael Steer

John Weston was a gifted Exeter sculptor who worked, probably in Cathedral Close, in the years c. 1715-35. Regarding Weston, Rupert Gunnis, the authority on English sculpture and author of the Dictionary of British Sculpture, wrote as follows: 'Weston was one of the most remarkable of the provincial statuaries. All his monuments are important and have an extraordinary range, both in style and execution. Most of them are well up to the best provincial standards of the early eighteenth century, but four in particular equal, if they do not surpass, the finest contemporary London productions. The extract, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Note 3. John Weston, Sculptor, Exon. — Can any readers of D&CN&Q. give me any information about John Weston, an Exeter sculptor who worked at the beginning of the 18th century? He executed several monuments in our parish churches, all marked by the same characteristics — mural tablets, at the base of which are marble reliefs upheld by skulls.

The earliest of these is at Ashprington, near Totnes, on a monument of John Kelland 1712. The relief represents the last judgment. The same subject is sculptured on the memorial of Jonathan I vie 17 17, now in St. Petrock's Church, Exeter, formerly at St. Kerrians. The work is very good, in fact the best of all these reliefs.

 It was photographed for me by Miss K. M. Clarke as an illustration for my Exeter Churches. The late Mr. R. Dymond said that the sculpture was signed  John Weston fecit," but I have never been able to find the signature. It may, however, be behind the monument, and Mr. Dymond may have seen it on its removal from St. Kerrian's Church. 

Another representation of the same subject is at Whitchurch, Tavistock ; the memorial commemorates "John Francis Pengelly, barrester, Jan. i, 1722." Here the work is signed  “John Weston fecit Exon." At St. Andrew's, Plymouth, a relief with the Resurrection is appended to the monument of Canon Gilbert 1722.

The large mural tablet to Captain Joseph Taylor, at Denbury, has a naval battle sculptured on just such another relief. Recently while noting this monument I glanced at tlie skulls and reflected, "This is like Weston's work." Immediately afterwards I perceived "John Weston fecit" at the top of the monument. The date of this memorial is 1733, which makes it the latest example of Weston's work known to us.