Translated from the Italian

I JOHN GIBSON Sculptor a Native of Liverpool in
the County of Lancaster domiciled in the City of Rome
Knowing that I am mortal but ignoring the hour of my
death now that I find myself perfectly sound of mind
and in possession of all my bodily faculties have resolved
to make this my will signed with my own hand and
desire that after my death it may be faithfully observed
I request my Executors to erect in such place as they may
deem proper and suitable a Monument to my memory
bearing a brief inscription ^inscription the expence thereof not exceeding
£50 sterling.
I leave under the title of bequest One scudo to St. Spirito
in Sassia of Rome and 50 baiocchi to the Holy places of
Jerusalem to be paid for once only.
I leave the following legacies in ready Cash to wit to
Penry Williams Painter now residing at Rome £500
sterling for once only.
I leave under the title of legacy and for and only to
William Theed Sculptor of Henrietta Street ^{Cavendish Square} London the
sum of £400 sterling.
I leave under the title of legacy and for once only to my
Cousin Benjamin Gibson of Liverpool the sum of £200
sterling.
I leave under the title of legacy and for once only to
Thomas Dessoulavy of Rome Painter the sum of £100
sterling.
I leave under the title of legacy and for once only to Guiseppe
Incoronati of Wimpole Street London Master of the Italian
Language £100 sterling.
I leave under title of legacy and for once only to Guiseppe
Bonomi of London the sum of £200 sterling.
I leave under the title of legacy and for once only to Mrs. Anna
Jameson ^now residing at Ealing in the County of Middlesex
the sum of £200 sterling for her separate use.
I moreover desire that the whole of the foregoing legacies
be paid at the expiration of 6 months from the date of
my death.
I moreover leave under the title of legacy or in any other
legally necessary form to my beloved Brother Solomon
Gibson of Liverpool Sculptor an annual pension of £100
sterling during his natural life to be paid him in two
equal half yearly instalments the first of such being

paid him 6 months after my death and I determine that
if he shall should die before the due date of one of the said half
yearly instalments or in the interval between one and the
other my Executors shall in such case pay to the executors,
administrators or heirs of my said Brother within the period
of 21 days from of his natural death as forming part of his property
such sum as shall be proportionate to the time he may have
lived from one payment to the other and to the amount of the
legacy itself. And I give power to my Executors to purchase
from the Government a life Annuity of £100 sterling in the name
and on behalf of my said Brother for the term and duration
of his life and this in order to meet the life annuity above
mentioned or the portion aforesaid proportionate to the time
that he may live otherwise to provide and set apart a sufficient
portion of my estate to meet with the net proceeds desirable
therefrom the annuity thus left him and to administer and
dispose of the remainder of my Estate as relieve from such
charge. And I determine that in this last mentioned case
all and any part of my estate intended to secure the said
Annuity even should it be in the shape of investments shall
when once the Annuity is paid revert to and go to increase
the residue of my Estate. And I determine that all the
legacies in money made by me as above and such as I
may make hereafter shall be paid in full and that the
succession duty thereon shall be defrayed by my Executors
out of the residue of my estate and that were legacies of
specific objects are concerned they ^also shall also be delivered
free of duty or charge of any kind for their Conveyance or
otherwise.
I moreover dispose that if at the period of my death
any part of my estate should be composed of investment
or property of which I cannot at the present time effectively
and legally dispose in this my will for the public purpose
I shall refer to hereafter in respect of the residue of my
estate then such investments and property in the last
place mentioned or the proceeds thereof when converted into
money for this object shall be first used by my Executors
to meet wholly or in part the legacies I have made in Cash
as also the Annuity left by me to my Brother and the,
respective amounts of succession duty and even the expense
of erecting a monument which I have hereinbefore requested
my Executors to raise and thus wholly or in part relieve

the residue of my estate from such legacies succession
duty and expences and cost of a monument.
I leave under the title of legacy al my printed books and
the prints ^whether bound or not which I may possess at the period
of my death as well as the frames ^which belonging to the said
prints to Benjamin Spence Sculpture formerly residing in
Liverpool and now in Rome.
I leave all the drawings which I ^may possess at my death
whether made by me or by others with the frames belonging
to them to the president Treasurer and Secretary for the time
being of the Royal Academy of Arts in London in order
that they may in their said capacity hold the same for
the said Academy and to such end deposit and retain
them in the Library or in any other part of that Establishment
for public use.
I leave the following works of Art to such public
Institutions as my Executors may determine so that they
may be preserved and kept for public Exhibition in the
said different Institutions to which they may be assigned
by my Executors to wit.
"A plaster statue representing Queen Victoria standing
"A plaster statue representing a Huntsman with Dog
"Cupid in plaster with a butterfly on his breast
"Cupid in plaster in the guise of a shepherd
"Lady Beauchamp a plaster statue
"An Amazon wounded standing a plaster statue
"Venus with the apple a plaster statue
"Aurora with two Vases in her hands a plaster statue
"Sir Robert Peel a plaster statue
"Eteocles and Polinices with their mother Giocasta
"A Bas relief in plaster
"The hours and the horses of the sun a bas relief in
plaster
"Phaeton guiding the Chariot of the Sun a bas-relief in
plaster
"Cupid and Psyche flying a bas-relief in plaster
"Cupid and Psyche kissing a bas-relief in plaster
"As also the ^plaster bas-relief belonging to the monument of
Lady Lester."
And I determine that the receipts of the Secretaries and
public officials of such Institutions respectively shall be
considered as a sufficient discharge for the articles respectively
handed over to them by the Executors.
 

I leave all my compositions works plaster figures casts models whether
the work of my own hands or that of others which may belong to me at
the time of my death and which are not hereinbefore specifically mentioned
to the said president Treasurer and Secretary for the time being of the
Royal Academy of Arts in London by way of trust in order that such
objects may be employed or or disposed under the direction of the
Council for the being of the said Academy as they may
consider most suitable for the development and advancement of
the study of drawing and modelling applicable to the higher
branches of painting and sculpture whether in direct connection
with the Schools of the Royal Academy or for the instruction
and advancement of the Students of the Royal Academy in
such drawing and modelling.
As regards the residue of my estate consisting of ready money
securities for money Consols real property and everything else
not otherwise disposed of which may remain after the payment of
all my debts funeral and testamentary expences and of the legacies
including therein the life Annuity I appoint and desire to be
my hiers in trust the President Treasurer and Secretary for
the time being of the said Royal Academy of Arts in London in
order that they may invest all capital and keep it invested in
their name in the public funds ^or and Consols of Great Britain
or otherwise invested upon securities bearing interest and of each
a nature as will legally admit its being subject to the Trusts
hereinafter explained by me and this always with respect to my
said residuary estate and such as will meet the approval of the
Council for the time being of the said Royal Academy for the
objects stated And from time to time to vary or alter such
investments or part with of the same as occasion may arise always
with the same approbation for other investments of a similar
kind And still under their trust to apply all dividends
interest and revenues derivable from such Consols funds
securities for money or investments under the direction of the
Council of the said Royal Academy the said Council receiving and
employing the same in such manner as they may deem most
suitable for the object of promoting and advancing the study of
Drawing and modelling above referred to either indirect dependancy
with the Schools of the said Royal Academy or for the instruction and
advancement of the students of drawing and modelling as aforesaid
And I declare it to be my will that the receipt in writing
of one or all of my heirs and trustees for the time being appoint
under this my Will shall be a sufficient discharge for any sum

paid to one or all of them in connection with and for the
objects of the duties entrusted to them And that the President
Treasurer and Secretary for the time being of the said Royal Academy
shall be always the administrators of my residuary Estate placed
under their trust and of all the other affects of which I had have disposed
by this my Will and that all such transfers of powers in and to
their successors in respect of all my estate and effects shall be from time
to time made as circumstances may require and that the successors
shall be effectively invested with the said powers conferred upon my
heirs and Trustees And that all future heirs and Trustees shall have
the same authority as if they were mentioned by name in this my Will
always in substitution of those whom they may respectively succeed.
O allow and authorize each of my heirs and Trustees to repay
themselves and repay their colleagues all and any expenses incurred
by them whether severally or jointly in and abiut the execution of
what is entrusted to them and I declare that no one of my said
heirs and trustees shall be liable for any loss or diminution of the
estate entrusted to them arising from accidental circumstances and
not caused by negligence omission or wilfulness.
And finally I hereby appoint Sir Charles Lock Eastlake the
actual President Philip Hardwick Esq. the actual Treasurer and
William Boxall Esq. at present an Associate of the said Royal
Academy my general Executors: And for the purpose of collecting
my Estate in Rome and disposing thereof in accordance with my
wishes already explained I appoint as my Executors Penry
Williams Esq. Painter residing in Rome and Benjamin Spence
Esq. Sculptor also residing in Rome And I hereby revoke all
previous Wills and Codicils by me made although conceived with
any derogatory clauses whatsoever And I desire that the present as
the last be preferred to all others and have its full effect and
execution.
In testimony whereof I John Gibson Testator have signed with
my own hand this my last Will and Testament contained in nine
pages this 25th day of the month of May in the year 1855.
I Giovanni (John) Gibson devise and dispose as above

Translated from the Italian
In the Name of God

This 25th day of May 1855 Roman Indiction XII and the 9th
year of the Pontificate of our Lord Pope Pius the 9th.

At a quarter past 6 post meridian

Before me Notary Publi as administrator deputed to the office of
succession of Valentini in Rome situated in the Piazza de Spagna
No.58 and the undersigned Witnesses

Appeared

Mr. John Gibson Son of the late William, born at Conway in Wales
England Sculptor domiciled at Rome Casa Davizielli in Via del Babuino
known to me who having made his Will written by the hand of another
but otherwise signed and dated by himself and wishing now to deposit
it in the hands of a public Notary in order to its obtaining full validity
has therefore consigned it to me the Notary declaring to me that the said
Will was contained in the present envelope sewn round with red silk
having upon it seven seals in red sealing wax. he said that he had
thereby appointed his heir and heirs and made various legacies
also in favor of So Spirito in Sassia of Rome, he enjoined me to keep it
secret during his natural life and after his death which may God
make distant, he gave power to me the notary to open it at the request
of whomsoever might claim to have an interest therein, in the presence
of two Witness only

Finally he said that he wished it to be his last Testament and
that if it were not valid as a Testament he desired that it should hold
good as a Codicil donation on account of death disposition for pious causes
or as any other deed of last Will, that he revoked and annulled whatsoever
other instrument by him previously made and desired that this only should
be considered the last, be preferred to all others and should obtain its
full effect.

Wherefore act done in Rome at my said Office being present Mess^rs.
Lorenzo Macdonald of the late Allesandro born in Scotland Sculptor
domiciled in Rome No.63 Capo le Case Adv^e Francesco Costa del
Antonio Saverio Cabral of the bo: me: Como Francesco Saverio born in
Lisbon domiciled in Rome No.43 via S Isidoro Adv^e. Giulio Veru a

Roman of the bo: me: Guiseppe domiciled No.54 via Angeli Custodi
di Gustavo Biugini del S. Angelo a Roman Student domiciled No.29
Vicolo del Soldato, Camillo Santolini del fu Paolo a Roman Writer
residing at No.48 via Tratina. Sig^r Carlo Campi ^Ciampi of the bo: me:
Vencenzo Merchant born and domiciled in Rome No.59 Piazza dei ^di
Spagna. Witness called in and requested who with the said Testator
and me Notary have signed.

Giovanni (John) Gibson
Carlo Ciampi witness
Laurence Macdonald witness
Antonio S. Cabral witness
Adv^e. Francesco Costa witness
Gustavo Santolini ^Santolini witness
Adv^e. Giulio Vera witness
Four ^For Sig^r Aless^dro Venuti Notary Adm^r. aforesaid
Pietro Livio Pompeii Not^y Sub^e Attesting

For copy in conformity with its original signed by me collated
In fidem
Rome the 29^th May 1855
Thus it is Alessandro Venuti Notary Public in Rome provisional
adminis^or. of the office of the Successor Valentini.

I John Gibson formerly of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster but
now residing in the City of Rome hereby declare this to be a Codicil to my
last Will and Testament dated the 25^th May 1855 Whereas by my
said Will I bequeathed certain works of Art therein specified to such public
Institutions as might be selected by my Executors. And I bequeathed all
compositions or works and all plaster and other casts and models either
of my own works or of the works of others which should belong to me
at my decease and which were not thereinbefore otherwise disposed of
by me unto the said President Treasurer and Secretary for the time being of
the Royal Academy of Arts in London Upon trust as in my said Wil
mentioned And I bequeathed my residuary personal Estate in manner in
my said Will mentioned Now I hereby revoke the aforesaid bequests so
far as may be necessary in order to give effect to the bequests hereinafter
contained (that is to say) I bequeath to the said President Treasurer and
Secretary for the time being of the said Royal Academy the following works by
me viz. A group in marble of the size of life of a Young Warrior wounded
attended by a Female which Group I have nearly finished. Also all other

works in marble by me which may remain unsold in my Studio at
my decease Also the original models in plaster of all works which shall
at my decease have been executed in marble by me except models of the
works in marble to which the said President Treasurer and Secretary will
become entitled under the bequest hereinafter contained. Also all the
models in plaster by me which shall not have been executed in marble
at my decease I also bequeath to the said President Treasurer & Secretary
for the time being of the said Royal Academy a first Cast made upon
the Original Venus De Medici and which marble was intended to be
placed upon the pedestal of the original when taken to Paris I also
bequeath to the said President Treasurer and Secretary for the time being
of the said Royal Academy a sum of Thirty two thousand pounds sterling
to be paid free of Legacy duty out of such part of my personal Estate as
may by Law be bequeathed for charitable or public purposes and
preferably to any other payment thereout I make the foregoing bequests
upon condition that the said President Treasurer and Secretary for the time
being of the said Royal Academy shall set apart either upon land held
or occupied by them at the time of my decease or upon land which
may after my decease be given to them or allowed to be occupied or
used by them for the purposes of the said Royal Academy space sufficient
and suitable for arranging and preserving the said works in marble
models and cast hereinbefore bequeathed so that they may be seen
by the Students of the said Royal Academy and by the public as herein
after mentioned. I direct the said President Treasurer and Secretary for
the time being of the said Royal Academy to stand possed of the said
works in marble models and cast upon trust that the same may
be from time to time preserved and exhibited under and subject to such
regulations as the Council for the time being of the said Royal Academy
as also at the time of the Annual Exhibition of the said Royal Academy
to the Public attending such Exhibition And I direct the said President
Treasurer and Secretary for the time being of the said Royal Academy to
stand possessed of the said sum of £32000 upon trust to apply the same
for such of the purposes of the said Royal Academy as to the said Council
for the time being shall seem fit But so nevertheless that no part of the said
sum of £32000 shall be applied in or towards the purchase of any land
or for any other purpose for which the same cannot lawfully be decreed ^bequeathed by
Will I bequeath to each of my general Executors in my said Will
 

named viz^t the said Sir Charles Lock Eastlake and Philip Harwick
and William Boxall who shall prove my Will the sum of £100 Sterling
to be paid or considered as due at the expiration of six calendar
months next after my death free of Legacy duty And I direct such
several sums of £100 each and all legacy duties payable in respect
of the bequests herein contained to be provided and paid by my Executors
primarily out of such ^{of my} investments or properties if any as I cannot
legally and effectually dedicate my Will to the public ^purposes in my
said Will declared of my residuary estate And in all other respects
I confirm my said Will IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set
my hand this 22nd day of March 1865.

Signed by the said John Gibson the Testator
as and or a Codicil to his last Will and
Testament in the presence of us present at
the same time who in his presence at his
request and in the presence of each other
have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses

John F. Macbean Banker - Rome
David S. Morice Canterbury Solicitor
 

Copy

TRANSLATION of
Italian Will of Mr.
Gibson & of Testamentary
Acts dated 25^th May 1855
and Copy of Codicil
thereto dated 22^nd March
1865

Wilde Rees Humphrey & Wilde