Steell, John Robert, Sir, RSA
1804 – 1891
Sir John Steell was the son of John Steell a wood carver and Margaret Gourlay his wife, and the brother of the painter Gourlay Steell RSA (1819-1894). In circa 1805 he moved to Edinburgh with his family and worked as an apprentice to his father whilst studying at the Trustees Academy, he proceeded to spend several years working and training in Rome. He returned to Edinburgh and produced one of his most famous pieces "Alexander and Bucephalus". He produced many private and public commissioned pieces including the figure of Scott for the Scott Monument on Princes Street, the figure of Queen Victoria for the Royal Institution Building and the Prince Consort monument in Charlotte Square for which he was knighted in 1876. In 1838 he had been appointed Her Majesty's Sculptor for Scotland. He exhibited at the RSA from 1827 until 1889. He became a Royal Scottish Academician in 1829 as part of the Hope Cockburn Award. At his death he had been an active Member of the Academy for 62 years, a record unequalled. He was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth Graham or Steell.
