Skip to Main Content
Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
Home
Contact
Architects
Buildings
Practices
Search
Admin Login
Architects
Name (Filter)
Architect Search
Clear Selection
Basic Biographic Details
Name:
Matthew Digby Wyatt
Designation :
Architect
Date of Birth:
Exact Date
Exact DOB:
28/07/1820
Year of Birth :
Circa Year of Birth :
Date of Birth Before (Year):
Date of Birth After (Year):
DOB (1st 'Or' Year):
DOB (2nd 'Or' Year):
Date of Death:
Exact Date
Exact DOD:
21/05/1877
Year of Death:
Circa Year of Death:
Date of Death Before (Year):
Date of Death After (Year):
DOD (1st 'Or' Year):
DOD (2nd 'Or' Year):
Town of Birth :
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.
'Biography authored by the Dictionary of Scottish Architects Compilation Team.'
Bio Notes continued...
Additional Notes
Addresses
The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:
Private Addresses
Private Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From Char
Date From Type
Date To Char
Date To Type
Notes
Dimlands Castle South Glamorgan Wales
Private
Place of retirement
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
Business Addresses
Business Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From
Date From Type
Date To
Date To Type
Notes
London England
Business
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
Employees or Pupils
The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):
Employees or Pupils2 classic
Name
Name Link
Date From
Date To
Position
Notes
Richard Popplewell Pullan
204712
In year 1853
In year 1853
Assistant
James Souttar
201897
In year 1860
In year 1863
Assistant
Richard Phené Spiers
203602
In year 1862
In year 1864
Improver
Lewis Solomon
204860
In year 1866
In year 1870
Apprentice
Lewis Solomon
204860
In year 1871
In year 1872
Clerk
row(s) 1 - 5 of 5
RIBA Proposals
This person proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
RIBA PROPOSALS2 classic
Person
Date Proposed
Notes
James Souttar
1865/04/03
for Associateship
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
Buildings and Designs
This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
Buildings and Designs2 classic
Building Name
Date Started
Town, District or Village
Island
City or County
Country
Notes
Inveraray Castle
In year 1871
Inveraray
Argyll
Scotland
Glazed ironwork porch erected
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this person:
Bib ref classic
Author
Title
Date
Publisher
Part
Notes
Placzek, Adolf K (ed)
Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects
1982
New York: The Free Press/Macmillan Publishing Company
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1