Laurence Macdonald (1799–1878) began his artistic journey as an ornamental mason before enrolling at the prestigious Trustees’ Academy in Edinburgh in 1822. After just seven months of formal study, he departed for Rome, then the epicentre of classical art and sculpture, to refine his skills in the neoclassical tradition.
On returning to Edinburgh, Macdonald established his own studio and quickly gained recognition for his talent. In 1829, he was elected a Royal Scottish Academician, affirming his growing reputation in the world of fine art. His early exhibitions at the Royal Scottish Academy showcased large-scale, heroic works inspired by classical antiquity, aligning him with the neoclassical movement that dominated European sculpture in the early 19th century.
In 1832, Macdonald made the pivotal decision to return to Rome, this time to settle permanently. There, he immersed himself in the international artistic community and later assumed the studio of Bertel Thorvaldsen, one of the most celebrated neoclassical sculptors of the age. Macdonald’s adoption of Thorvaldsen’s former space further cemented his status as a key figure in the continuation of classical sculpture traditions.
