Person    | Male  Born 12/8/1854  Died 4/11/1934

Sir Alfred Gilbert

Categories: Sculpture

Sculptor and goldsmith.  Born 13 Berners Street.  Eloped with his first cousin, Alice, marrying in Paris and then living in Rome.  Returned in 1884 and became successful and famous, attracting many commissions, some from the royal family.  A good friend of the sculptor Princess Louise.  Built a large house and studio at 16 Maida Vale.   However he was excessively generous and, as a perfectionist, each commission could take him many years so money became a major problem.  His wife could not cope with this life and was looked after in a private nursing home.  1901 he declared himself bankrupt, and moved with his family to Bruges.

Alice returned to England and died in 1916. Albert would frequently return to London to lecture but the art school he had set up in Bruges failed and his commissions continued to go bad financially.  He was poor and his reputation was in tatters.  He married his housekeeper, Stéphanie and stayed in Bruges until 1924 when they went to Rome for two years and then came to England in July 1926.  King George V took pity on the 72-year old man and accepted him back, arranging a studio for him at St James's Palace and then from 1932, when he was knighted, at Kensington Palace where he also lived.  Died at Cromwell Nursing Home, 198 Cromwell Road.

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Sir Alfred Gilbert

Creations i

Duke of Wellington statue - SW1

Statue unveiled by the Prince of Wales. The figures of the soldiers were cast...

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Henry Reader Williams Clock Tower

The bas-relief of Williams is by Sir Albert Gilbert.

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John Hunter bust - Tooting

This is a far better sculpture than our photo shows. Two versions of this bus...

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John Hunter - Gateway

{At the top of the gateway, below the bust:} John Hunter 1728 - 1793. Founded...

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Queen Alexandra - SW1

The building behind this monument, Marlborough House, was where Alexandra and...

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Other Subjects

Paul Mason

Paul Mason

Sculptor working mainly in stone and marble. Born Lancashire.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
Ralph Beyer

Ralph Beyer

From Birkbeck :  "Sculptor, Ralph Beyer, who died in 2008 aged 86, fled from Nazi Germany arriving in England with his family in 1937 when he was 16 years old. His mother later returned to Germany ...

Person, Sculpture, Germany

1 memorial
Alan Wilson

Alan Wilson

Sculptor based at Henley on Thames.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
Walter Gilbert

Walter Gilbert

Sculptor.  Born Rugby.  Cousin to Sir Alfred Gilbert.  His son, Donald, also sculpted and they often worked together.  Other works in London include: some gates at the Freemasons Hall (inside or ou...

Person, Sculpture

8 memorials
Mortimer Brown

Mortimer Brown

Sculptor. Born Staffordshire. Died Budleigh Salterton, Devon where he had lived since 1925.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial

Previously viewed

A. Tompkinson

A. Tompkinson

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Dambusters Raid

Dambusters Raid

An attack by Royal Air Force 617 Squadron on German dams using bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis. The operation was led by Guy Gibson. Subject of the 1955 film The Dambusters for which Eric ...

Event, Armed Forces, Aviation

2 memorials
St Mary Moorfields

St Mary Moorfields

Catholic church built by architect John Newman in 1820. Replaced in 1902 by the church of the same name in nearby Eldon Street. From the church's website: "As the permanent seat of the Vicar Apost...

Building, Religion

1 memorial
New River mosaic

New River mosaic

N1, Packington Street, Islington Green School

This mosaic mural is quite a success, with the pair of compasses disgorging the fish into the pond at the right, and James's golden crown...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Stanley Hall & Baths

Stanley Hall & Baths

N19, Junction Road, Boston Arms

Stanley Hall & Baths This building was erected by E. H. Blunt, 1884.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator