Thomas Banks RA (1735–1805): A Sculptor Steeped in Classical Ideals Thomas Banks, born in London in 1737, stands as a pivotal figure in the landscape of eighteenth-century English sculpture. His artistic journey began under the tutelage of his father, William Banks, a surveyor entrusted with overseeing land stewardship for the Duke of Beaufort—a familial connection that instilled within him an appreciation for meticulous observation and architectural precision. Educated at Ross-on-Wye, Banks’s formative years nurtured a passion for drawing, initially guided by his father's instruction before…