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.

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:
Sir Alfred Gilbert

Creations i

Duke of Wellington statue - SW1

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

Read More

Henry Reader Williams Clock Tower

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

Read More

John Hunter bust - Tooting

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

Read More

John Hunter - Gateway

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

Read More

Queen Alexandra - SW1

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

Read More

Other Subjects

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
Donald Potter

Donald Potter

Born Donald Steele Potter at Parsonage House, Newington, Kent. He became a permanent member of staff at the Scouting Association's Gilwell Park where he developed his wood carving skills. In the 19...

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
Philomena Davidson Davis

Philomena Davidson Davis

Born London, she became the first female president of the Royal British Society of Sculptors in 1990, a post she held for six years. Our picture source gives a biography and bibliography.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
Bronislaw Kubica

Bronislaw Kubica

Sculptor.  Polish. Active in 1974.

Person, Sculpture, Poland

1 memorial
Sir Thomas Brock

Sir Thomas Brock

Sculptor. Born in Worcester.  Ornamental Passions has some comments on his work generally and at Admiralty Arch in particular.  Died at 4 Dorset Square.

Person, Sculpture

13 memorials