Basic Biographical Details

Name: Matthew Digby Wyatt
Designation:  
Born: 28 July 1820
Died: 21 May 1877
Bio Notes: Matthew Digby Wyatt was born on 28 July 1820 in Rode, Wiltshire. He was the brother of Thomas Henry Wyatt (born 1807), in whose office he trained from the age of sixteen. He studied at the Royal Academy Schools and in 1844 embarked on a two-year tour of Europe, making nearly a thousand ink and watercolour drawings of monuments. He became a noted writer and lecturer on the applied arts and came to the notice of a group of Royal Academicians including Owen Jones, Sir Henry Cole and John Scott Russell, leading to his appointment as Special Commissioner and Secretary to the Great Exhibition of 1851. In 1855 he was appointed Surveyor to the East India Company and he was later appointed architect to the Council of India.

Wyatt designed in a variety of styles including Moorish and Indian, but his best work is in an Italian Renaisance idiom. In addition to architecture, his work included interior decoration, stained glass, tiles, carpets, metalwork and book illustration. He was a member of the circle centred around Prince Albert the Prince Consort, and was a friend of Edward Lear, William Dyce and Frederic, Lord Leighton.

Overwork caused a deterioration in health and in the late 1860s he retired to Dimlands Castle, South Glamorgan. He died in Cowbridge, South Glamorgan on 21 May 1877.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2London, EnglandBusiness   
Item 2 of 2Dimlands Castle, South Glamorgan, WalesPrivateLate 1860s Place of retirement

Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 5Richard Popplewell Pullan18531853Assistant 
Item 2 of 5James Souttar18601863Assistant 
Item 3 of 5Richard Phené Spiers18621864Improver 
Item 4 of 5Lewis Solomon18661870Apprentice 
Item 5 of 5Lewis Solomon18711872Clerk 

RIBA

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1James Souttar3 April 1865for Associateship

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 11871Inveraray CastleInveraray ArgyllScotlandGlazed ironwork porch erected

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Placzek, Adolf K (ed)1982Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects New York: The Free Press/Macmillan Publishing Company