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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | London, England | Business | | | | | Dimlands Castle, South Glamorgan, Wales | Private | Late 1860s | | Place of retirement |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils
RIBARIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | James Souttar | 3 April 1865 | for Associateship |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1871 | Inveraray Castle | Inveraray | | Argyll | Scotland | Glazed ironwork porch erected |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Placzek, Adolf K (ed) | 1982 | Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects | | New York: The Free Press/Macmillan Publishing Company | |
|