Person    | Male  Born 22/2/1882  Died 17/11/1940

Eric Gill

Categories: Art, Craft / Design, Sculpture

Sculptor. Born Brighton. One of thirteen children of a clergyman, he remained religious all his life. Passionate believer in the "carving direct" method. His sculptures would sometimes depict controversial passions and his own transgressive sexual passions extended to a long incestuous relationship with his sister. Had strong views on what people should wear. Women, being inferior should cover up. Wrote a book on the effect of trousers on men's bits 'Trousers & The Most Precious Ornament'.

Studied under Johnston and assisted with the creation of the Johnston sans typeface. Then designed his own, the Gill Sans typeface. A 'compare and contrast' is fascinating. In 1914 was invited to design the Great Seal for George V. The design was accepted but never produced because WW1 intervened. More interestingly, at the time no one seems to have spotted that the king's mount was shown in the urination position. A mistake (or piss-take?) repeated by Hardiman in his statue of the mounted Earl Haig in 1937. Gill died Harefield Hospital, Uxbridge.

Other works in London include: relief sculptures on 55 Broadway (3 of the 8 Winds); Prospero and Ariel and others on Broadcasting House; Stations of the cross in Westminster Cathedral; Moorfields; and Doves Bindery and Press plaque (possibly).

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Eric Gill

Creations i

British Museum War Memorial

Designed and carved by Eric Gill.

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Edward VII Galleries, British Museum

So, all the sevens then. Eric Gill designed and carved this memorial.

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People's Palace

The plaque names only 6 relief panels but there are 7, music being represente...

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W. H. Hudson Memorial

The sculpture represents Rima, the nature-spirit heroine of Hudson's book "Gr...

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Other Subjects

Sir Alfred Munnings

Sir Alfred Munnings

Born Mendham, Suffolk. Artist specializing in paintings of horses and an opponent of ‘modernism’. The loss of an eye in 1898 did not impair his ability to paint. Knighted 1944. Died at home in ...

Person, Art

2 memorials
Julia Clara Pitt Byrne, née Busk

Julia Clara Pitt Byrne, née Busk

Writer and illustrator.  1842 married William Pitt Byrne and, when the time came, designed his memorial.  Died at home, 16 Montagu Street.

Person, Art, Literature

1 memorial
Neil Irons

Neil Irons

From his own website: "Scottish artist Neil Irons has been based in London since 1987, moving to his current studio in Walthamstow in January 2008. His visual practise incorporates Painting, Sculpt...

Person, Art, Scotland

3 memorials
Frederic James Shields

Frederic James Shields

Born Hartlepool. Painter. He met and became friends with Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1864, who along with John Ruskin gave him practical help in his work. From 1865 to 1867 he collaborated on a gro...

Person, Art

1 memorial
George Lookwood (Slim of Peckham)

George Lookwood (Slim of Peckham)

Mosaic artist active in 2007.

Person, Art

1 memorial