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

Giuseppe Grandi

Giuseppe Grandi

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Person, Sculpture, Italy

1 memorial
John Edward Taylerson

John Edward Taylerson

John Edward Taylerson was born in Durham and christened on 13 January 1855. Before 1881 he and his widowed mother moved to London where he studied. He established a business in Wandsworth. His Lond...

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
Francis John Williamson

Francis John Williamson

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Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
John H. Foley

John H. Foley

Born Dublin. Works include: Albert and the group Asia, both at the Albert Memorial, After Foley's death the statue of Albert was finished by his assistant Thomas Brock. Died at home, The Priory, Up...

Person, Sculpture, Ireland

4 memorials

Previously viewed

Lord Pitt of Hampstead

Lord Pitt of Hampstead

NW1, North Gower Street, 200

London Borough of Camden Lord Pitt of Hampstead, 1913 - 1994, physician and civil rights campaigner, worked here, 1950 - 84.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Bowman's Lodge

Bowman's Lodge

An elegant house with views across countryside.  Edward Lear's stockbroker father held the lease 1806 - 1829 so Edward lived here until he was 16.  With two storeys and five bays it was not a parti...

Building, Property

1 memorial
Richard Desmond

Richard Desmond

Wealthy publisher and philanthropist.  Born North London.  Owner of Express Newspapers.  Plays in a charity rock bank with Roger Daltrey.

Person, Journalism / Publishing, Philanthropy

1 memorial