David Watson Stevenson RSA 1842-18/03/1904

D.W. Stevenson R.S.A. was born at Ratho in 1842. He began his artistic life under William Brodie, R.S.A., with whom he remined for eight years. At the commencement of that period he entered as a student the Board of Trustees' School of Design, and while there gained the South Kensington National Prize for a statuette reproduction of the Venus of Milo. At that time also he was admitted to the Life School of the Royal Scottish Academy.

In 1859 he exhibited for the first time in the Royal Scottish Academy, "Bust of a Child," and thereafter contributed regularly to the Annual Exhibition. He commenced on his own as a sculptor in 1868, went to Rome in 1876 to prosecute his studies, and there modelled a statue of Venus, which he afterwards reproduced in marble. He was a frequent visitor to Paris.

Among his most important works are:-"Desdemona," 1863; "Little Nell," 1866; "Scotch Peasant Girl,"1867 (Diploma Work); "Bust of Mrs. Scott Siddons," 1868; "Bust of Mrs. J. H. A. Macdonald," 1870; "Nymph at the Stream," 1873; "The Fair Maid of Perth," 1876; "An Italian Girl," 1877; "Lady Godiva," 1878; "The Glee Maiden," "Sheriff Nicholson," 1880; "The late David Laing, LL. D.," "Echo," 1881; "The Earl of Dalhousie," 1890; "Countess of Dalhousie," 1892; "Highland Mary," 1896; "Napier of Merchiston," 1898.

His public works include: "The Platt Memorial," Oldham; "The Bolekow Monument," Middlesboro'; "The Wallace Statue," National Memorial, Abbey Craig; "The Burns Statue," Leith; Two groups on National Monument to Prince Consort, Edinburgh; "The Tannahill Statue," Paisley; "Highland Mary," Dunoon; Statues for Scott Monument and National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh.

He was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1877, and an Academician in 1886. He died at Edinburgh on 18^th March.

RSA Obituary, transcribed from the 1904 RSA Annual Report