Castor and Pollux; copy of an antique statue by Joseph Nollekens, Victoria and Albert Museum

Joseph Nollekens (August 11, 1737 - April 23, 1823), was a sculptor from London generally considered to be the finest British sculptor of the late 18th century. For the stars see Castor (star and Pollux (star, for the sculptural group in the Prado Museum, see Castor and Pollux (Prado, and for The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design housing a permanent collection Events 2492 BC - Traditional date of the defeat of Bel by Hayk, progenitor and founder of the Armenian nation Year 1737 ( MDCCXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 1823 ( MDCCCXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system He was also a founder member of the Royal Academy in 1768. This article refers to an art institution in London For other meanings of Royal Academy see Royal Academy (disambiguation.

He studied first under Peter Scheemakers before studying and working as an antiques dealer, restorer and copier in Rome from 1759 to 1770. Peter Scheemakers ( 1691 &ndash 1781) was a Flemish Roman Catholic sculptor who worked for most of his life in London. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Returning to England he became one of the most fashionable portrait sculptors in the country. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland

Nollekens enjoyed the patronage of George III and went on to sculpt a number of British political figures, including George III himself, William Pitt the Younger, Charles James Fox, the Duke of Bedford and Charles Watson-Wentworth. George III (George William Frederick 4 June 1738 George III's long reign was marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdom much of the rest of Europe and places Charles Watson-Wentworth 2nd Marquess of Rockingham KG, PC (13 May 1730 &ndash 1 July 1782 styled The Hon He also made busts of a number of figures from the arts such as Laurence Sterne and Benjamin West. Laurence Sterne ( November 24, 1713 &ndash March 18, 1768) was an Irish -born English Novelist and an Anglican Benjamin West RA ( October 10, 1738 – March 11, 1820) was an Anglo - American painter of historical Additionally, he made a large number of church monuments. A church monument is an architectural or sculptural Memorial to a dead person or persons located within a Christian church

Nollekens died in London, having made a fortune from his work. A notorious miser, he left around £200,000 in his will.