John William Kitson (1846 – February 6, 1888)[1] was an English-born architectural sculptor who worked in the United States.
According to family oral stories Kitson and Ellin decided to compete in a juried show for the 1876 centennial as Americans to set themselves apart from other English entrants.
Instead, their work was seen as a part of the exterior and interior of churches and commercial buildings and elegant homes; their work also included carved furniture such as seen in the 1876 Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia, PA. Kitson has been attributed with carving stone columns of the National Art Institute NYC now known as the National Academy.
His work is also seen in an upstairs meeting room of the Tilden Mansion, now the National Arts Club, in a carved frieze of birds against a gold leaf ground.
Circa 1872 at Philadelphia's First Presbyterian Church on Walnut, Kitson and Alexander M. Calder carved all exterior and interior stone and woodwork.
Younger brother Harry, Henry Hudson Kitson, was sent at the age of 14 to apprentice with John William and Samuel James and then moved to Paris for his sculpturing education.