William Theed the elder

William Theed, called William Theed the elder (1764–1817) was an English sculptor and painter, the father of William Theed the younger, also a sculptor. He is best known for his "Hercules Taming the Thracian Horses" (c.1816) in the Royal Mews, one of the first British sculptures to show the influence of the newly-acquired Elgin Marbles. ["Theed, William", David Rodgers, "The Oxford Companion to Western Art", Ed. Hugh Brigstocke. Oxford University Press, 2001.]

He was trained at the Royal Academy Schools in 1786 and began a career in painting. After a tour with other artists of Italy (where he reportedly got married) he returned to England and worked as a modeller for Wedgwood from 1800-1804, and then for the silversmiths Rundell and Bridge from 1804-1817. He was elected an associate of the Royal Academy in 1811 and as Royal Academician in 1813. He trained his son in the early stages of the latter's career. [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/27162?_fromAuth=1 Theed, William, the younger (1804–1891)] , Martin Greenwood, "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", Oxford University Press, 2004 ]

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