Thomas Brock

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir

Thomas Brock
Sir Thomas Brock.jpg
Born1 March 1847
Died22 August 1922(1922-08-22) (aged 75)
London, England
NationalityBritish
Alma mater
  • School of Design, Worcester
  • Royal Academy Schools
Known forSculpture, coin design

Sir Thomas Brock KCB RA (1 March 1847 – 22 August 1922) was an English sculptor and medallist, notable for the creation of several large public sculptures and monuments in Britain and abroad in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.[1] [2] His most famous work is the Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace, London.[2] Other commissions included the redesign of the effigy of Queen Victoria on British coinage and the massive bronze equestrian statue of Edward, the Black Prince, in City Square, Leeds.[3]

Biography[]

Brock was born on 1 March 1847 in Worcester.[2] He was the only son of a painter and decorator and attended the Government School of Design in Worcester after which he undertook an apprenticeship in modelling at the Worcester Royal Porcelain Works.[4] In 1866 he became a pupil of the sculptor John Henry Foley and also enrolled in the Royal Academy Schools where he won a gold medal for sculpture in 1869.[4][5] After Foley's death in 1874, Brock finished some of his commissions, including the monument to Daniel O'Connell in Dublin.[4][6] It was his completion of Foley's statue of Prince Albert for the Albert Memorial which first brought Brock to prominence and secured his position as an establishment sculptor.[6][5][7]

Thomas Brock in his studio, 1889

Brock's group The Moment of Peril (now in the garden of Leighton House) was followed by The Genius of Poetry, at the Carlsberg Brewery in Copenhagen. A plaster model for Eve was shown at the Royal Academy in 1898; a marble version (1900) is in the collection of the Tate and Brock also cast some smaller bronze replicas and other imaginative works that mark his development.[8] His portrait works include busts, such as those of Lord Leighton and Queen Victoria, statues, such as Sir Richard Owen and Henry Philpott, bishop of Worcester, and sepulchral monuments such as that of Lord Leighton (died 1896) in St Paul's Cathedral.[1][5]

In 1901 Brock won the commission to make a colossal equestrian statue of Edward the Black Prince for Leeds City Square, and was also given perhaps his most significant commission, the vast multi-figure Imperial Memorial to Queen Victoria to be set up in front of Buckingham Palace.[7] He had previously made statues of the queen to celebrate her golden and diamond jubilees, and designed the depiction of her "veiled" or "widowed" head, used on all gold, silver and bronze coinage between 1893 and 1901. According to legend, at the unveiling of the memorial in May 1911, George V was so moved by the excellence of the memorial that he called for a sword and knighted Brock on the spot.[7]

Brock was elected an associate of the Royal Academy in 1883 and became a full member in 1891.[5] He was the founding president of the Society of British Sculptors.[6] He died in London on 22 August 1922. Brock married in 1869, and had eight children.

Public monuments[]

1875–1889[]

Image Title / subject Location and
coordinates
Date Type Material Dimensions Designation Wikidata Notes
Statue of Richard Baxter, Kidderminster - geograph.org.uk - 1021441.jpg
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Richard Baxter St Mary's, Kidderminster 1875 Statue on pedestal Marble and granite Grade II Originally in the Bull Ring, Kidderminster and moved to its present site in March 1967.[9][10][11][12]
Moment of Peril by Thomas Brock - Copenhagen - DSC07914.JPG
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A Moment of Peril Rosenborg Castle Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark 1880 Sculpture group Bronze Q57542450 Replica of the original in the gardens of the Leighton House Museum in London.[13]
Robert Raikes Statue in the Victoria Embankment Gardens.jpg
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Statue of Robert Raikes Victoria Embankment Gardens, London 1880 Statue on pedestal Bronze and stone Grade II Q19967451 [14][15][16]
Sir Rowland Hill statue, Kidderminster - DSCF0924.JPG
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Sir Rowland Hill Vicar Street, Kidderminster 1881 Statue on circular pedestal Marble and granite Grade II Q26392153 [12][17][18][19]
Colin Minton Campbell statue, Stoke (2).JPG
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Colin Minton Campbell London Road, Stoke-on-Trent 1887 Statue on pedestal Bronze and stone 5.05m high [12][20]
Queen Victoria statue, Worcester, England - DSCF0777.JPG
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Queen Victoria Shire Hall, Worcester 1887 Statue on pedestal Marble and granite Grade II Q26669257 [12][21]
Henry Bartle Frere statue, Victoria Embankment Gardens 20170803 112917 (49450331417).jpg
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Statue of Henry Bartle Frere Whitehall Gardens, London 1888 Statue on pedestal Bronze and granite 3.4m tall Grade II Q21286428 [14][22][16][5]

1890–1899[]

Image Title / subject Location and
coordinates
Date Type Material Dimensions Designation Wikidata Notes
Victoria RI.jpg
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Queen Victoria Houses of Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa 1890 Statue on pedestal Granite pedestal Q20614583
Ac.oconnell.jpg Daniel O'Connell St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, Australia Erected 1891 Statue on pedestal Bronze [23]
Bishop Henry Philpott 1807 - 1892 - geograph.org.uk - 486922.jpg Bishop Henry Philpott Worcester Cathedral 1892 Seated statue on pedestal Stone [24]
A catalogue of portraits, paintings and sculpture at the Natural History Museum, London (1995) (20395929710).jpg Richard Owen Natural History Museum, London 1896 Statue on pedestal Bronze and marble [25]
Fountain Theatre Royal Drury Lane.jpg
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Memorial to Sir Augustus Harris Catherine St. facade of Theatre Royal, Drury Lane 1897 Wall mounted drinking fountain and sculpture Granite and bronze Grade I Memorial architect: Sidney R. J. Smith [26]
Lord Merthyr statue in Merthyr Tydfil.jpg
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William Lewis, 1st Baron Merthyr Upper Thomas Street, Merthyr Tydfil 1898 Statue on pedestal Bronze and granite Grade II Q29489929 [12][27]
Thomas Hughes statue.jpg Thomas Hughes Rugby School 1899 Statue on pedestal [28]

1900–1909[]

Image Title / subject Location and
coordinates
Date Type Material Dimensions Designation Wikidata Notes
Statue of Queen Victoria - geograph.org.uk - 1189730.jpg
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Queen Victoria Victoria Square, Birmingham 1901, recast 1951 Statue on pedestal Bronze and stone Q47460184 Recast by William Bloye from Brock's original marble statue in 1951[29]
Statue of Queen Victoria, Grand Avenue, Hove (NHLE Code 1187555) (September 2018) (Close-up).JPG
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Queen Victoria Grand Avenue, Hove Unveiled 1901 Statue on pedestal Bronze and marble Grade II Q26482744 [12][30]
Queen Victoria statue (geograph 3154437).jpg
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Queen Victoria Carlton House Terrace, London Unveiled 1902, relocated 1971 Statue Marble 1.9m tall Q19927909 [14]
Queen Victoria Monument, Victoria Park, Bitts Park - geograph.org.uk - 838257.jpg
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Queen Victoria Bitts Park, Carlisle 1902 Statue on pedestal & steps Bronze and granite Grade II Q26513391 [31][32]
Royal Scots Fusiliers memorial Burns Statue Square, Ayr 1902 Statue on pedestal Bronze and granite Category B Q17834558 [33][34]
Black prince leeds.jpg
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Edward, the Black Prince Leeds City Square 1903 Equestrian statue on pedestal Bronze and granite Grade II* Q17533834 [12][35][5]
Queen Victoria Monument.jpg
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Queen Victoria Belfast City Hall. 1903 Statue on pedestal and steps with sculptures Marble, Portland stone, bronze Grade A Q17778520 [36][37]
Edward James Harland Belfast.jpg
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Edward James Harland Belfast City Hall 1903 Statue on pedestal Stone Q17778453 [38]
Gladstone statue Liverpool 2.jpg
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William Ewart Gladstone St John's Gardens, Liverpool 1904 Statue on pedestal, relief panel with 2 statues at base Bronze Grade II Q26333153 [12][39]
Statue of John Everett Millais by Thomas Brock 2011 02.jpg
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Sir John Everett Millais Tate Britain, London 1905 Statue on pedestal Bronze and Portland stone 6.7m tall Grade II Q27080819 [14][40][41]
Bust of Sir Henry Tate, Brixton in March 2011 01.jpg
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Sir Henry Tate Brixton Oval, London 1905 Bust on pedestal Bronze and stone Grade II Q27087718 [12][42]
Q Victoria in bangalore.JPG
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Statue of Queen Victoria Queen's Park, Bangalore 1906 Statue on pedestal Q22116770 [43]
Statue of Queen Victoria, Brisbane 06.jpg
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Queen Victoria Queens Gardens, Brisbane, Australia 1906 Statue on pedestal Bronze and stone [44]
Brigiadier General John Nicholson statue - geograph.org.uk - 942349.jpg
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General John Nicholson Royal School Dungannon, County Tyrone 1906 Statue on pedestal Bronze and stone Grade B+ Q17861889 Originally erected in Delhi, relocated to Dungannon in 1960.[45][46][47]

1910–1919[]

Image Title / subject Location and
coordinates
Date Type Material Dimensions Designation Wikidata Notes
Statue of Henry Irving, London in 2015.JPG
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Statue of Sir Henry Irving Charing Cross Road, London 1910 Statue on pedestal Bronze and Portland stone Grade II Q18162015 [14][48]
Victoria Memorial, The Mall, London.jpg
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Victoria Memorial, London The Mall, London Unveiled 1911, completed 1924 Sculpture on pillar with statues and fountains Marble, bronze, Portland stone Grade I Q1333411 [14][12][49][5][50]
Lord Merthyr Thomas Brock by Aberdare Blog.jpg
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William Lewis, 1st Baron Merthyr Aberdare Park, Aberdare 1913 Statue on pedestal Bronze and granite Grade II Q29489480 [51]
Navigation by Sir Thomas Brock, Admiralty Arch, London.jpg Navigation Admiralty Arch, London 1908–1913 Wall-mounted statue Portland stone Grade I [52]
Gunnery sculpture on Admirality Arch.JPG Gunnery Admiralty Arch, London 1908–1913 Wall-mounted statue Portland stone Grade I [52][53]
Statue of Captain Cook, The Mall SW1.JPG
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Statue of Captain James Cook The Mall, London 1914 Statue on pedestal Bronze and Portland stone Grade II Q17514442 [12][14][54][55]
Edward-VII-02.JPG
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Edward VII Queen's Park, Toronto 1919 Equestrian statue on pedestal Bronze and stone Originally erected in Delhi, India, relocated to Canada in 1969 as a gift of the government of India.[56]

1920 and later[]

Image Title / subject Location and
coordinates
Date Type Material Dimensions Designation Wikidata Notes
Titanic Memorial Belfast.jpg
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Titanic Memorial, Belfast Belfast City Hall 1920 Statue group on pedestal Stone Q7809806 [37]
King Edward VII monument, Sydney (3365870229).jpg
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Edward VII Macquarie Street, Sydney, Australia 1921 Equestrian statue on pedestal Bronze and stone Brock won the commission in 1915, but the work was not finished and delivered until 1921.[57]
Queen Victoria's statue inside the memorial in Kolkata.jpg
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Queen Victoria Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, India 1921 Statue on pedestal Marble Q92360284 [58][59]
Charles Grant Seely monument Gatcombe.jpg Captain Charles Grant Seely St Olave's Church, Gatcombe, Isle of Wight. 1922 Sculpture on box tomb Marble and stone Q93239404 Brock's final completed work.[60][61]
Memorial To Lord Lister-Portland Place.jpg
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Memorial to Joseph Lister Portland Place, London 1924 Bust on column with sculptures Bronze and granite Grade II Q21541736 [62]
War Memorial, Queen's University, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 717244.jpg
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War memorial Queen's University, Belfast 1924 Statue group on pedestal Bronze and granite Q66459168 [63]
Statue of Robert Raikes, Gloucester.jpg
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Robert Raikes Gloucester 1930 Statue on pedestal Bronze and stone A copy of Brock's 1880 statue in London[12][64]

Other works[]

  • Equestrian bronze A Moment of Peril (1880) now in the collection of Tate Britain.[65]
  • Design of Queen Victoria's "veiled" or "widowed" head on British coinage and medals (1893–1901).
  • Statue of Queen Victoria, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, 1905 (removed after 1947 independence of India)[66]
  • Bust of Henry Lee, in the hall of the Royal College of Surgeons[67]
  • Bust of Henry W. Longfellow, Grand Pre, Nova Scotia.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Brock, Thomas" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 623.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Ian Chilvers (2004). The Oxford Dictionary of Art. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-860476-9.
  3. ^ Stocker, Mark (3 January 2008). "Brock, Sir Thomas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/32080. Retrieved 5 June 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c University of Glasgow History of Art / HATII (2011). "Sir Thomas Brock RA, KCB, PRBS, HRSA". Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain & Ireland 1851–1951. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Susan Beattie (1983). The New Sculpture. Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art / Yale University Press. ISBN 0300033591.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Sir Thomas Brock RA (1847–1922)". Royal Academy. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c Martina Droth, Jason Edwards & Michael Hatt (2014). Sculpture Victorious: Art in the Age of Invention, 1837-1901. Yale Center for British Art, Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300208030.
  8. ^ "Sir Thomas Brock: Eve, 1900". Tate. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  9. ^ The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1968 p207
  10. ^ Kidderminster Since 1800, Ken Tomkinson and George Hall, 1975, pp. 209–210.
  11. ^ Historic England. "The Baxter Monument (1100091)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l Jo Darke (1991). The Monument Guide to England and Wales. Macdonald Illustrated. ISBN 0 356 17609 6.
  13. ^ "A Moment of Peril". The Victorian Web. 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g John Blackwood (1989). London's Immortels. The Complete Outdoor Commemorative Statues. Savoy Press. ISBN 0951429604.
  15. ^ Historic England. "Statue of Robert Raikes (1066179)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b Gomme, George Laurence (1910). Return of Outdoor Memorials in London. London: London County Council.
  17. ^ Historic England. "Statue of Sir Rowland Hill (1100054)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  18. ^ The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1968 p208
  19. ^ "Sir Rowland Hill (1795-1879)". Thomas Brock. Victorianweb.org. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  20. ^ "Statue of Colin Minton Campbell (1827-1885)". Public Monument and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  21. ^ Historic England. "Statue of Queen Victoria Approximately 15 metres to west of Shire Hall (1389833)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  22. ^ Historic England. "Statue of Sir Bartle Frere (1066176)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  23. ^ "St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne". Australia's Christian Heritage. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  24. ^ The Buildings of England: Worcestershire, Nikolaus Pevsner, 1968, p. 312.
  25. ^ John C. Thackray (1995). A catalogue of portraits, paintings and sculpture at the Natural History Museum, London. Mansell, London.
  26. ^ Historic England. "Theatre Royal Drury Lane and attached Sir Augustus Harris Memorial Drinking Fountain (1357276)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  27. ^ Cadw. "Statue & Plinth to Sir W.T. Lewis (11476)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  28. ^ Public sculpture of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull by George Thomas Noszlopy, pp. 28–29.
  29. ^ George T. Noszlopy (1998). Public Sculpture of Britain volume 2: Public Sculpture of Birmingham including Sutton Coldfield. Liverpool University Press. ISBN 0-85323-682-8.
  30. ^ Historic England. "Statue of Queen Victoria (1187555)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  31. ^ Historic England. "Statue of Queen Victoria (1218785)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  32. ^ "Queen Victoria Monument, Carlisle". History and Heritage. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  33. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Burns Statue Square, South African War Memorial (Category B Listed Building) (LB21516)". Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  34. ^ "War Memorials Register: Royal Scots Fusiliers - Burma, Sudan, Tirah Campagn, 1st Boer War and 2nd Boer War". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  35. ^ Historic England. "Statue of the Black Prince (1375045)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  36. ^ "Victoria Memorial". Buildings Database, Northern Ireland Department of Communities. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  37. ^ Jump up to: a b "Belfast City Hall". Causeway Coastal Path. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  38. ^ "Edward James Harland statue". Titanic Memorials. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  39. ^ Historic England. "Gladstone Monument (1073469)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  40. ^ "Sir Thomas Brock: Sir John Everett Millais 1904". Tate. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  41. ^ Historic England. "Statue of John Everett Millais (1222797)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  42. ^ Historic England. "Bust of Sir Henry Tate (1434203)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  43. ^ Iyer, Meera (4 February 2013). "Empress of all she surveys" (Bangalore). Deccan Herald. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  44. ^ "Queen Victoria". Monument Australia. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  45. ^ "Brigadier General John Nicholson". The Victorian Web. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  46. ^ "The Nicholson Memorial". Madras Weekly Mail. 12 April 1906. p. 18.
  47. ^ Bathoe Rainsford, Bathoe (12 April 1960). "Nicholson Hero of Delhi". Belfast Telegraph. p. 10.
  48. ^ Historic England. "Statue of Henry Irving, London (1357292)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  49. ^ Historic England. "Queen Victoria Memorial (1273864)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  50. ^ "National Victoria Memorial 1911". Yale Centre for British Art. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  51. ^ Cadw. "Pedestal and Statue of Lord Merthyr in Aberdare Park (10885)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  52. ^ Jump up to: a b "Sculpture by Thomas Brock on Admiralty Arch". The Victorian Web. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  53. ^ "Gunnery". The Victorian Web. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  54. ^ "The Mall, London". The Captain Cook Society. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  55. ^ Historic England. "Statue of Captain Cook (1239083)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  56. ^ Wencer, David. "Historicist: Here Comes the Equestrian Statue". Torontoist. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  57. ^ "Royalty and Australian Society Chapter 2: King Edward VII". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  58. ^ "Queen Victoria". The Victorian Web. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  59. ^ "HM The Queen Empress Victoria (1819–1901)". Museums of India, National Portal & Digital Repository. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  60. ^ Harris, Oliver D. (2018). "A crusading 'captain in khaki': Sir Thomas Brock's monument to Charles Grant Seely at Gatcombe (Isle of Wight)". Church Monuments. 33: 97–120.
  61. ^ "War Memorials Register: Captain CG Seely". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  62. ^ Historic England. "Lister Monument in Centre of Road opposite Numbers 71 to 81 (odd) Portland Place (1265542)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  63. ^ "War Memorials Register: Sacrifice - Queens University". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  64. ^ "Robert Raikes Statue Achievements". Gloucester Civic Trust. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  65. ^ "A Moment of Peril, 1880, Sir Thomas Brock". Tate. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  66. ^ "Statue of Queen Victoria | Yale Center For British Art". interactive.britishart.yale.edu. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  67. ^ "Plarr's Lives of the Fellows: Lee, Henry (1817 - 1898)". www.rcseng.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2021.

Further reading[]

  • Brock, Frederick (2012). Sankey, John (ed.). Thomas Brock: forgotten sculptor of the Victoria Memorial. Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse. ISBN 9781467883344.
  • Byron, Arthur (1981). London Statues: a guide to London's outdoor statues and sculpture. London: Constable. ISBN 9780094634305.
  • Getsy, David J. (2004). Body Doubles: Sculpture in Britain, 1877–1905. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300105124.
  • Harrold, Pauline; Rota, Una; Stainton, Thomas, eds. (1968). British Sculpture, 1850–1914: a loan exhibition of sculpture and medals sponsored by the Victorian Society, 30th September–30th October 1968. London: Fine Art Society.
  • Read, Benedict (1982). Victorian Sculpture. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300025064.
  • Sankey, John Anthony (2002). Thomas Brock and the Critics – An Examination of Brock's Place in the New Sculpture Movement. PhD Thesis: University of Leeds.
  • Stocker, Mark. "Brock, Sir Thomas (1847–1922)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/32080. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

External links[]

Preceded by
Joseph Edgar Boehm
Coins of the pound sterling
Obverse sculptor

1892
Succeeded by
George William de Saulles
Retrieved from ""