The Industrial Arts of the Nineteenth Century, a two-volume imperial folio published between 1851 and 1853, established Matthew Digby Wyatt as a documentarian of the Great Exhibition. This work, containing 160 chromolithographed plates by artists like Francis Bedford and Henry Rafter, exemplified his dual capacity as an architect and an analytical art historian during the nineteenth century.
Early Career and Railway Architecture
Born in 1820 in Devizes, Wiltshire, Matthew Digby Wyatt received his foundational architectural training within the office of his elder brother, Thomas Henry Wyatt. His professional contributions included assisting Isambard Kingdom Brunel on the terminus of the Great Western Railway at London Paddington, completed in 1854. Beyond railway infrastructure, he was involved in the design of a locomotive for the Egyptian Railways in 1862, specifically the 2-2-4T engine produced by the Robert Stephenson Works of Newcastle upon Tyne. Known as the Khedive's Train, this piece remains preserved at the Egyptian Railway Museum in Cairo.
Administrative and Public Roles
Wyatt served as Secretary of the Great Exhibition and later moved into government-aligned surveying roles. In 1855, he was appointed Surveyor of the East India Company, later transitioning to Architect to the Council of India. Additionally, in 1870, he oversaw the conversion of the Elm Grove House estate in Hanwell into the Royal India Asylum.
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As the first Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Cambridge, Wyatt bridged the gap between practical construction and historical theory. His architectural projects in the United Kingdom were diverse, ranging from the reconstruction of Addenbrooke's Hospital in 1866 to the design of the Rothschild Mausoleum in the West Ham Jewish Cemetery. He also designed private residences such as Newells in Sussex, and Possingworth Manor. His professional standing was formally recognized with a Knight Bachelor and the Royal Gold Medal in 1866.
Scholarship and Publications
Wyatt was a prolific author whose publications examined the intersection of art, history, and industrial application. Notable titles include his 1849 report on the French exposition, his 1852 work Metal-work and its artistic design, and his 1860 study on the art of illuminating. His late-career publications included Fine art: a sketch of its history, theory, practice and application to industry in 1870, and a 1872 note-book detailing domestic architecture in Spain.
Fast facts
- Born: 1820, Devizes
- Died: 1877, Dimlands
- Awards: Royal Gold Medal (1866), Knight Bachelor
- Employment: University of Cambridge, East India Company
- Professional Titles: Architect, Art Historian, University Teacher
- Citizenship: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Questions readers ask
What major government buildings did Wyatt design?
He designed the interiors of the India Office in London and the Royal Indian Engineering College.
Did Wyatt have a role at the University of Cambridge?
Yes, he was the first Slade Professor of Fine Art at the university.
What is the Khedive's Train?
It is a 2-2-4T locomotive built in 1862 for the Egyptian Railways, featuring marquetry work by Wyatt.
Achievements
- Royal Gold Medal
- Knight Bachelor
