Person    | Male  Born 26/6/1851  Died 17/11/1920

Richard Claude Belt

Categories: Sculpture

Sculptor. Born Westminster. At Mapping Sculpture we learnt that Belt was twice caught up in significant court cases, one of which had the Byron statue at its centre. Belt's former employer, Charles Lawes (sculptor and athlete, 1843-1911) claimed in print that the winning design for the statue was Lawes's and not Belt's. Belt sued and the high profile trial ran for 6 months in 1882. Witnesses included prominent portrait sitters and members of the Royal Academy. Belt won the case but Lawes filed for bankruptcy to avoid payment.

Then in 1886 Belt and his brother Walter were accused of obtaining money by false pretences (by the fraudulent sale of jewellery) from Sir William Neville Abdy. Walter was found not guilty but Richard got 12 months hard labour.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Richard Claude Belt

Creations i

Byron statue

Byron is shown with his beloved Newfoundland dog, Boatswain, who had died of ...

Read More

Queen Anne statue, St Paul's

The 4 female figures around the base represent: Britannia, France, America, I...

Read More

Other Subjects

Vivien Mallock

Vivien Mallock

Sculptor active 2000.  Her own website.

Person, Sculpture

2 memorials
Sir Edwin Landseer

Sir Edwin Landseer

Painter and sculptor especially of animals. Born 88 Queen Anne Street East, Marylebone. Died at home, 18 St John's Wood Road.

Person, Art, Sculpture

1 memorial
Enzo Plazzotta

Enzo Plazzotta

Sculptor. Born at Mestre, near Venice. Worked in London for more than half his life. Other works here include: 'Young Dancer' at Bow Street/Broad Court.  Ornamental Passions has a very information ...

Person, Sculpture, Italy

2 memorials
Nick	Roberson

Nick Roberson

Sculptor. Born London.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial