Charles Regnart (1759 – 19 November 1844) was an English sculptor, specialising in funerary monuments. His masterpiece is said to be the 17th century-style recumbent figure of George Rush in the parish church in Farthinghoe.[1] The figure shows Rush in old age, lying with his slippers on, clutching a Bible and staring to heaven. Regnart flourished from 1790 until 1830. His style has been described as "pseudo-Classical"[2] and is typified by much folded drapery and an overall pattern of white (usually a draped funerary urn or casket) against a black background.

Life

edit

He was born in Bristol, the son of Philip Regnart (1739–1805), a carver and statue maker from Flanders[3] who had worked under Thomas Ricketts of Gloucester, and who claimed descent from the Gothic chief Raginhart who sacked Rome with Alaric.[4]

Regnart married Esther Hunter of Hexham at Little Mary-la-Bonne Church in London, with whom he had one son, Charles, born in 1796. They lived at 12 Cleveland Street, off Cavendish Square in London.[1] Following Esther's death, he married Jane, the family cook. They moved to a new house at Hampstead Road near Euston around 1817. He exhibited several works at the Royal Academy.

He died on 19 November 1844 at St Marys Buildings, St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, and was buried in Hampstead Road Cemetery in London.

Notable monuments

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Charles Regnart (1759-1844) - Bob Speel's Website". Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  2. ^ "REGNART, Charles - Sculptor : Benezit Dictionary of Artists - oi". Oxford University Press. 2011. doi:10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.b00150037. Retrieved 20 January 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "Sussex Parish Churches - Architects and Artists R". Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  4. ^ Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660–1851, Rupert Gunnis: Philip Regnart
  5. ^ "Memorial to Henry Davidson, West India Merchant, by John Ternouth, All Saints, Kingston-upon-Thames". Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Suffolk Churches". Retrieved 20 January 2017.