Person    | Male  Born 22/2/1882  Died 17/11/1940

Eric Gill

Categories: Art, Craft / Design, Sculpture

Sculptor. Born Brighton. One of thirteen children of a clergyman, he remained religious all his life. Passionate believer in the "carving direct" method. His sculptures would sometimes depict controversial passions and his own transgressive sexual passions extended to a long incestuous relationship with his sister. Had strong views on what people should wear. Women, being inferior should cover up. Wrote a book on the effect of trousers on men's bits 'Trousers & The Most Precious Ornament'.

Studied under Johnston and assisted with the creation of the Johnston sans typeface. Then designed his own, the Gill Sans typeface. A 'compare and contrast' is fascinating. In 1914 was invited to design the Great Seal for George V. The design was accepted but never produced because WW1 intervened. More interestingly, at the time no one seems to have spotted that the king's mount was shown in the urination position. A mistake (or piss-take?) repeated by Hardiman in his statue of the mounted Earl Haig in 1937. Gill died Harefield Hospital, Uxbridge.

Other works in London include: relief sculptures on 55 Broadway (3 of the 8 Winds); Prospero and Ariel and others on Broadcasting House; Stations of the cross in Westminster Cathedral; Moorfields; and Doves Bindery and Press plaque (possibly).

2023: For a taste of the on-going controversy that surrounds Gill see the Daily Mail outrage regarding the BBC repairing the vandalised Prospero and Ariel.

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Eric Gill

Creations i

British Museum War Memorial

Designed and carved by Eric Gill.

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Edward VII Galleries, British Museum

So, all the sevens then. Eric Gill designed and carved this memorial.

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People's Palace

The plaque names only 6 relief panels but there are 7, music being represente...

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W. H. Hudson Memorial

The sculpture represents Rima, the nature-spirit heroine of Hudson's book "Gr...

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Other Subjects

G. F. Watts

G. F. Watts

Born in London. His piano-making father named him after Handel. Married briefly to Ellen Terry, many years his junior. 1886 married Mary Tytler. The statue 'Physical Energy' in Hyde Park is his. Le...

Person, Art, Sculpture

17 memorials
Theodore and Elsie Crombie

Theodore and Elsie Crombie

With the information provided by Kwok Li (see Miss Rose’s page) we found two items on-line which tell us a bit about the owners of Miss Rose, Theodore and Elsie Crombie: Publication for sale: “Apo...

Group, Art, History

1 memorial
Peter Vanderbank

Peter Vanderbank

Engraver. Probably born Paris. Came to London in 1674. Died at his brother's in Hertfordshire.

Person, Art, Craft / Design, France

1 memorial
Ray Walker

Ray Walker

Muralist. Married to Anna. Designed the Hackney Peace Carnival Mural but died suddenly from a heart attack, aged 39 before the painting began.  He was also working on the Cable Street mural when he...

Person, Art

3 memorials
John Reardon
1 memorial