John Hutchison RSA 1833-1910

Born in Edinburgh in 1832, Mr. Hutchison was at the age of thirteen apprenticed to a wood-carver in the High Street, attending at the same time the decorative and modelling classes at the Trustees’ Academy.

He displayed remarkable talent in his profession, and when, in 1852, the late Mr. Patrick Allan Fraser was reconstructing and adding to his mansion house at Hospitalfield, young Hutchison was employed to execute the wood carving inthe picture gallery.

Choosing the life of a Sculptor, for some years he attended the more advanced classes at the Trustees’ Academy, by this time under the charge of Robert Scott Lauder, and before the close ofthe ’fifties he spent some time in Rome, where he made the acquaintance of several of the leading Sculptors of the day.

Some years later he revisited the Art centre of Europe, as it was still considered, in company with his friend Mr. M‘Whirter, and these Roman residences left a deep impression on the young sculptor, furnishing the themes of several of his most delightful fancy subjects, and of many interesting reminiscences in after years.

Mr. Hutchison, who had contributed to the Scottish Academy as early as 1856, was from the date of his first return from Italy a constant Exhibitor, subject pieces such as “ Pasqucecia,’ “ Marietta,’ and “A Roman Matron,” alternating with portrait busts, amongst which those of Robert Scott Lauder and John Phillip were notable. Later he executed various public commissions, of which the bronze statue of Adam Black, M.P., in East Princes Street Gardens, is perhaps the best known.

He was elected Associate of the Academy in 1862, and five years later he attained full honours. For nine years 1877-86 he acted as Librarian, and afterwards, till he retired frem active Membership in 1907, as Treasurer. On retiring from his active duties he was presented by his fellow Academicians with a testimonial in recognition of his long and devoted services to the Academy.

Mr. Hutchison’s keen interest in the history and literature of Art—stimulated, doubtless, by his years of Librarianship—and his remarkable memory, made him an invaluable link with the earlier days of the Academy and with the Artists who had taken part in its early struggles, many of whom he had known personally.

RSA Obituary from the 1910 RSA Annual Report