(b London, 9 March 1850; d Coombe, Oxon, 1925). English sculptor. He was the second son of the sculptors Thomas (1815–85) and Mary (1814–95) Thornycroft. Encouraged by Edward Burne-Jones, he decided on a career as a sculptor, despite his father’s initial opposition. He trained in his father’s studio and in 1869 entered the Royal Academy Schools, London, where he benefited from the teaching of Lord Leighton. In 1872 he travelled via France to Italy. In Paris he was impressed by the work of such 19th-century sculptors as Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, François Rude and Paul Dubois, and in Italy he particularly admired the work of the early Renaissance masters Ghiberti, Donatello and Verrocchio.

• Thornycroft, (William) Hamo
  • Medal, §II, 4: 19th century
  • Popham, A. E.
  • assistants
    • Tweed, John
  • groups and movements
    • Baroque Revival
    • New Sculpture
  • works
    • Belcher, John
    • Statuette, §III, 2(iii): Mid- and late 19th century in England & the USA