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

John Wesley Seale

John Wesley Seale

Sculptor. Born Wiltshire. His son, J. H. G. and his grandsons, J. H. and A. B., all became sculptors. John Wesley died at home, Swiss Cottage, Jardin Street, Albany Road, Camberwell.

Person, Sculpture

19 memorials
Sir William Reid Dick

Sir William Reid Dick

Born Glasgow. Reid was his mother's maiden name.  Other work in London: 1936 - Boy with Frog fountain in Regent's Park and The Herald at 85 Fleet Street.  Died at home in 16 Maida Vale in the house...

Person, Sculpture, Scotland

10 memorials
Eduardo Paolozzi

Eduardo Paolozzi

Sculptor and printmaker. Born in Edinburgh of Italian parents. His father (and we think his maternal grandfather) died on the Arandora Star. A major figure in the development of the pop-art style. ...

Person, Sculpture, Italy, Scotland

1 memorial
Richard Holliday

Richard Holliday

Sculptor. Born Cambridge. From Thompson Gallery: "Richard Holliday started his career in stone as an apprentice stonemason in Cambridge in 1980 and has been in Cornwall since 1994."

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
Farmer & Brindley

Farmer & Brindley

Firm of sculptors. Founded by William Farmer (1825-1879) and William Brindley. Worked on many buildings including the Natural History Museum, the Albert Memorial and Holborn Viaduct. In 1929 the fi...

Group, Sculpture

4 memorials