Sir Henry Cheere, 1st Baronet

Sir Henry Cheere, 1st Baronet (1703 - 15 January 1781) was a notable English sculptor of the 18th century,George Edward Cokayne, editor, "The Complete Baronetage", 5 volumes (no date (c. 1900); reprint, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 1983), volume V, page 140.] Department for Culture, Media and Sport: "Export of Works of Art 2002-2003" - see http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3BC3BEED-545A-490F-B272-43FBBC37933C/0/ewoa20022003report2.pdf] and older brother of John Cheere, also a notable sculptor.

Born in Clapham, Surrey (now part of London), Cheere was apprenticed in 1718 to mason-sculptor Robert Hartshorne, an assistant to William and Edward Stanton. By 1726 he had established his own sculptor's yard near St Margaret's, Westminster, was joined by Flemish sculptor Henry Scheemakers (from c.1729 until Scheemakers' departure from England c. 1733;Whinney, M., "Sculpture in Britain 1530-1830", 2nd edn., Harmondsworth, 1988] Scheemakers d. 1748) and took on many apprentices.

In 1743 Cheere was appointed 'Carver' to Westminster Abbey, an appointment which led to his creation of at least nine monuments in the Abbey. He also purchased more property in the area surrounding the Abbey and took on civic offices including acting as a director of the Westminster Fire Office (in 1745–47, 1760–62), Controller of Duties for the Free Fish Market of Westminster (from 1749), Justice of the Peace (c. 1750) and deputy lieutenant for the county of Middlesex.

In July 1748, Cheere joined William Hogarth and other artist friends, including Thomas Hudson, Joseph and Alexander Van Aken and Francis Hayman, on a trip to Paris, and then on to Flanders and the Netherlands.

In 1750, he was appointed a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. He was knighted on 10 December 1760 and created 1st Baronet Cheere, of St Margaret's, Westminster on 19 July 1766. Cheere was one of a group who unsuccessfully attempted to promote an English academy of arts (prior to the establishment of the Royal Academy).

He retired from business and sold the contents of his workshop in March 1770.

Upon his death, his son William Cheere succeeded him as 2nd Baronet, but died unmarried in 1808. Sir Henry also had a daughter, Charles Cheere (1735-1799). [ [http://www.thepeerage.com/p21845.htm#i218448 thePeerage.com - Person Page 21845 ] ]

Works

*monument to Robert Bertie, 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven (c. 1728; Edenham, Lincolnshire) (with Henry Scheemakers)
*statue of Queen Caroline for The Queen's College, Oxford
*statue of Christopher Codrington for All Souls College, Oxford
*monument to Lord Chief Justice Raymond (d. 1732) at Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire
*gateposts to Sausmarez Manor, Guernsey
*memorial to Capt Philip de Sausmarez in Westminster Abbey (c. 1747)
*monument to Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy (1666-1732) in Westminster Abbey
*Equestrian statuette of the Duke of Cumberland (c. 1746 - 1770) - in National Army Museum [ [http://www.artfund.org/search/artist/4398/sir-henry-cheere The Art Fund - Art Saved ] ]
*bust of Nicholas Hawksmoor in National Portrait Gallery [ [http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp06783&role=art Sir Henry Cheere, 1st Bt (1702-1781) ] ]
*memorial to Sir John Brownlow, 5th Bt of Humby, Viscount Tyrconnel and Baron Charleville, in church of St Peter & St Paul, Belton, Lincolnshire [ [http://www.churchmonumentssociety.org/newfile13.htm Lincs ] ]
*monument to architect Thomas Archer, in church of St Mary, Hale, Hampshire [ [http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/stmaryschurch/stmarys.htm The Puzzle of St Mary's Church, Hale - Judith Leigh ] ]
*marble statue of barrister Sir George Cooke (1645–1740) (c. 1744-1749) - in Victoria & Albert Museum
*monument to James Cooper (d.1743) and his wife in AllSaints, West Ham, Essex
*monument to the Earl of Kildare in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
*equestrian monument to King William III (c. 1757), in Petersfield, Hampshire
* memorial to Robert Davies Esq. of Llanerch (c1736), in Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Mold, Flintshire

Notes