Lawrence Gahagan

Lawrence Gahagan or Geoghegan (1735–1820) was an 18th/19th century Irish-born sculptor. He specialised in small bronze portrait busts.[1]

Life

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Gahagan was born Lawrence Geoghegan in Dublin in 1735 probably into a family of stonemasons. He attended the Dublin Society School and won their "premium" (cash prize) in 1756 for a statuette of Rubens. Around 1757 he left Ireland and sailed to London where he changed his name to Gahagan.[2]

He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1798 to 1817.

He lived, worked and died in Westminster.

Works

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Bust of Mary Anne Clarke by Gahagan, National Portrait Gallery, London

Family

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On 7 June 1762 at St Pancras Old Church he married Phoebe Hunter (born 1741). They had at least ten children, several of which (both male and female) became sculptors.

  • Sarah Gahagan (died 1866) sculptor
  • Lucius Gahagan (born 1866) sculptor in Bath (facade of 9 Quiet Street Bath) and head of David Garrick on the Garrick Head Hotel
  • Charles Gahagan (1764–1844) sculptor (assistant to John Flaxman)
  • Vincent Gahagan (1776–1831) sculptor
  • Sebastian Gahagan (1779–1838) sculptor
  • Phoebe Gahagan
  • Bunius Gahagan

Vincent's son, Edwin Gahagan (died 1858) was also a sculptor.

References

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  1. ^ "Lawrence Gahagan - National Portrait Gallery".
  2. ^ Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1851 by Rupert Gunnis p.160
  3. ^ "Lawrence Gahagan King George III (1738-1820)".
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