John Willis-Good - Sculptor

John Willis-Good (1845-1879), the only English counterpart to the French ‘Animalier’ sculptors, produced only ten to fifteen models in his short and tragic life. A pupil of Boehm who was Queen Victoria’s favourite sculptor, Willis Good’s sculptures excel in their ability to capture not just the sport but also the quintessential English quality of the sporting life.

He made his Royal Academy début in 1870, and over the following decade showed a series of equestrian pieces in bronze and terracotta. His works display staggering accomplishment, skill, and naturalism. Certainly, his empathy with animals shows him familiar with the hunting and racing world, and it is possible that he himself was a horseman.