Sir Thomas Brock RA, KCB, PRBS, HRSA
Born 1 March 1847
Died 22 August 1922
Active: 1867 - 1916
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, designer, medallist
Born in Worcester, Worcestershire, he was the only son of William Brock, a painter and decorator. Thomas Brock studied first at the Government School of Design, Worcester, and then served an apprenticeship in modelling at the Worcester Royal Porcelain Works. From 1866 he became a pupil of John Henry Foley. Brock also attended the Royal Academy Schools from 1867 where he won a gold medal for his sculpture 'Hercules Strangling Antaeus' in 1869.
When Foley suddenly died in 1874, Brock completed most of his unfinished works including a large monument to Daniel O'Connell for Dublin. This led to many important commissions including designing the new likeness of Queen Victoria for the coinage in 1891. The latter part of Brock's career was dominated by creating the Queen Victoria Memorial (1901-24, The Mall, London).
Brock was the recipient of numerous honours including a knighthood, an honorary doctorate from the University of Oxford (1909) and honorary memberships of the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Society of Arts, and the Société des Artistes Français. He died at 4 Dorset Square, London.
Wealth at death: £83,555 16s. 8d.
Probate date: 17 October 1922
Works
Dates are usually the year a work was exhibited so may differ from date of production.
New entries have been made each time a work was exhibited. Click here for more information.
Head of the late John E. Foley, Esq., Sculptor
1879 (Circa)
Study of a Head for the Leighton Tomb
The Snake Charmer
1879
Eve
1898
The late Lord Leighton, PRA
1901
Eve
1901
Lord Leighton, PRA
1903
Eve
1903
Contemplation
1907
Marble bust
1910
His late Majesty King Edward VII
1911
The late Lord Lister
1913
Study of a head for the figure of Sculpture for the tomb of Lord Leighton
1915
Motherhood
1922 (Circa)
Locations
Address 10 Duke Street Portland Place London | View on map
1868 (Circa) - 1870 (Circa)
Address 29 Clipstone Street Fitzroy Square London | View on map
1869 (Circa)
Address 15 Fitzroy Road Regent's Park London NW | View on map
1870 (Circa) - 1871 (Circa)
Address 10 Boscobel Place St. John's Wood London | View on map
1873 (Circa) - 1876 (Circa)
Studio located at The Studio, 30 Osnaburgh Street Regent's Park London | View on map
1877 (Circa) - 1922 (Circa)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Beneficiary of Leighton Fund (Royal Academy of Arts), 1896-1951
1916
Brock was paid £210 for a bronze replica of 'his bust of the late Lord Leighton, P.R.A., which he had made and delivered with a pedestal to the Town Hall, Scarborough (see Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1916', 1917, p. 20).
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1899
'Genius of Poetry'
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1901
'Eve'
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1909
'Study of a Head for the Leighton Tomb'
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the thirtieth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1900
'Eve'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Seventy-Seventh, 1903
'Lord Leighton, PRA'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Eighty-First, 1907
'Contemplation'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Eighty-Fifth, 1911
'His late Majesty King Edward VII'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Eighty-Seventh, 1913
'Eve'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Eighty-Ninth, 1915
'Study of a head for the figure of Sculpture for the tomb of Lord Leighton'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Ninety-Seventh, 1923
'Motherhood'
Exhibited at Eighteenth Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, 1879
'The Snake Charmer'
Exhibited at Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1906
'Contemplation'
Exhibited at Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1910
'Marble bust'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1868 - 1922
Exhibited 48 times, usually two works per year (total 108).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-fourth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1894
1894
The late Right Hon. The Earl of Derby, KG (cat. no. 1297, marble bust, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-eighth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1898
1898
Sir Henry Tate, Bart. (cat. no. 1396, bronze bust, not for sale).
Exhibited at International Exhibition, Glasgow, 1901
1901
Exhibited at Special Loan Exhibition of Paintings of the British School 1878-1903, and Sculpture (Nottingham Castle Museum), 1903
September 1903
Brock exhibited two sculptures (both works were undated).
Exhibited at International Exhibition, Dublin, 1907
1907
British Sculpture, Gallery II: 'Eve. Marble Statuette', p. 25 (186). Lent by the sculptor.
Exhibition committee member for The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The One Hundred and Thirty-Second (Summer Exhibition), 1900
11 April 1900 - 25 April 1901
Responsible for the arrangement of sculpture. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1900' (1901), p. 25.
Exhibition committee member for Franco-British Exhibition of Science, Art and Industries (London), 1908
6 July 1907 (Circa)
Gave report of 6 July meeting held by the art section to Royal Society of British Sculptors, drawing plans of the galleries (6 July 1907, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no. 1).
Exhibition committee member for The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The One Hundred and Thirty-Ninth (Summer Exhibition), 1907
10 April 1907 - 22 April 1907
Responsible for the arrangement of sculpture. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1907' (1908), p. 24.
Exhibition committee member for The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The One Hundred and Forty-First (Summer Exhibition), 1909
7 April 1909 - 19 April 1909
Responsible for the arrangement of sculpture. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1909' (1910), p. 28.
Exhibition committee member for The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The One Hundred and Forty-Seventh (Summer Exhibition), 1915
8 April 1915 - 20 April 1915
Responsible for the arrangement of sculpture. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1915' (1916), p. 34.
Selection committee member of Chantrey Bequest (Chantrey Fund; Royal Academy of Arts), 1875-1948
1906 - 1919
Served on the selection committee from 1906 to 1909, 1914, 1915, 1916 and 1919 (see Royal Academy, 'Annual Reports').
Institutional and Business Connections
Associated with Royal Commissioners of the 1851 Exhibition
1911 (Presumed)
Part of Royal Society of British Sculptors sub-committee to advise on the Travelling Scholarship of Rome [18 Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Associated with The International Historical Congress
20 January 1913
Frampton appointed Brock to act as a delegate on his behalf at the Congress [20 January 1913, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Committee member of War Memorials Committee (Royal Academy of Arts), 1918
1918
Elected ARA Royal Academy of Arts
16 January 1883 - 21 January 1891
Elected RA in 1891.
Elected honorary member of The Royal Scottish Academy
1911
Elected HRSA
Elected RA Royal Academy of Arts
21 January 1891 - 22 August 1922
Died in 1922.
Honorary treasurer of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1919 - 1922
Died in 1922.
Member of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1904 - 1922
Founding member, served as Treasurer until 1922, donated £500 pounds to the Society on his death
Member of council Royal Academy of Arts
1891 - 1916
Listed as a member of the Council from 1891 to ...., 1900 to 1901, 1907 to 1909, and from 1915 to 1916. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Reports'.
Member of council The British School at Rome
18 May 1911 - 1919
Elected member of the council for forwarding the re-constitution of the School on behalf of the Royal Society of British Sculptors [18 May 1911, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
President of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1905 - 1909
First presidency. Stood down from position in 1908; left it in 1909 [see resignation entry].
President of Royal Society of British Sculptors
9 October 1911 - 20 November 1911
Agreed to act as temporary president following the sudden death of Lawes-Wittewronge. Stood in until George Frampton was elected President the following month [9 October 1911, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
President of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1914 - 1919
Second presidency. Took over as President after the resignation of George Frampton and the Council after a stormy meeting on 27 February 1914. This followed a vote of censure passed at an Extraordinary Meeting of the RBS (16 January 1914) criticising the RBS Council for their support of James Havard Thomas and his actions re a commission for ten marble sculptures to fill empty niches and pedestals in the staircase hall of Cardiff City Hall.
Resigned from Royal Society of British Sculptors
5 April 1909
Stood down from his first presidency of the society in 1908. Gave up due to poor health earlier in the year and the need to 'devote his undivided energy to the great task which he had still to complete'. He also felt that it would be good for the Society to have fresh leadership. Society requested that he keep close relation with them and preside over meetings until the end of the session, requests to which Brock agreed [1 June 1908, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1]. Resigned properly the following spring [5 April 1909, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Studied at Royal Academy Schools
5 June 1867 - 1869 (Presumed)
Awarded a silver medal for the best model from the antique in 1868: see Royal Academy 'Annual Report', (1869), p. 26. Brock was also awarded a gold medal for the best historical group in sculpture, and a second silver medal for a model from life in 1869: see 'Annual Report', (1871), p. 21.
Visitor at Royal Academy Schools
1884 - 1920
Listed as a visitor to the School of Modelling from the Life from 1884 to 1903, from 1907 to 1908, and in 1920. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1883', (1884), p. 31.
Personal and Professional Connections
Assistant was Henry Charles Fehr
See Stocker (2004)
Assistant was Sidney Herbert Physick
Assistant was Francis Derwent Wood
1894 - 1895
See Stocker (2004)
Assistant was Harold Parker
1911 (Circa)
http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110141b.htm?hilite=parker%3Bharold accessed 12 December 2009
Feud with William Goscombe John
19 December 1910 (Presumed) - 4 January 1911 (Presumed)
John wrote to the Royal Society of British Sculptors 'protesting against the action of Mr. Thomas Brock in taking part in a newspaper controversy concerning the Memorial Committee's instructions without first ascertaining from the sculptor concerned the facts of the case' [19 December 1910, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1]. Brock responded by 'adhering to the views he had expressed in his letter of November 11th to the Liverpool Courier and protesting against any attempt being made to stifle free criticism. The matter was dropped [4 Jaunary 1911, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Nominated by Charles West Cope
25 April 1879
For ARA
Nominated by Charles Bennet Lawes-Wittewronge
18 May 1911
To represent the Royal Scoiety of British Sculptors on the council for the re-constitution of the British School at Rome. Nomination carried unanimously [18 May 1911, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Nominator of William Goscombe John
15 November 1892
For RA.
Nominator of (Edward) Alfred Briscoe Drury
21 November 1893
For RA.
Nominator of Reuben Sheppard
5 February 1906
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Nominator of Frank Arnold Wright
5 February 1906
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Nominator of Albert Hemstock Hodge
19 November 1907
For RA.
Nominator of David McGill
19 November 1907
For RA.
Nominator of Charles Leonard Hartwell
19 November 1907
For RA.
Nominator of Oliver Wheatley
19 November 1907
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Benjamin Clemens
19 November 1907
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Arthur George Walker
19 November 1907
For RA.
Nominator of Basil Gotto
19 November 1907
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Ernest George Gillick
1912
For RA.
Nominator of Stanley Nicholson Babb
1912
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Leonard Stanford Merrifield
26 April 1917
For RA; unsuccessful.
Pupil of John Henry Foley
1866 - 1874
At the time of Foley's death Brock was his principal studio assistant and completed most of his unfinished works.
Seconded by Frederick Richard Pickersgill
25 April 1879
For ARA
Seconder of Thomas Stirling Lee
2 December 1892
For RA.
Seconder of Henry Charles Fehr
9 December 1893
For RA; unsuccessful.
Seconder of Percy Bryant Baker
20 January 1913
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors [20 January 1913, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Descriptions of Practice
Listed as medallist Biographical Dictionary of Medallists, Coin, Gem, and Seal-Engravers, Mint Masters, &c., Ancient and Modern with References to their Works, B.C. 500 - A.D. 1900, Volume VII, 1923 Biographical Dictionary of Medallists
Forrer notes that 'Dr S. Bousfield possesses a wax medal by this artist, which was no doubt intended for a Diamond Jubilee Medal of Queen Victoria, 1897'. See Forrer, vol. 7, (1923), p. 124.
Listed under Sculptors Biographical Dictionary of Medallists, Coin, Gem, and Seal-Engravers, Mint Masters, &c., Ancient and Modern with References to their Works, B.C. 500 - A.D. 1900, Volume I, 1902 Biographical Dictionary of Medallists
Listed as a contemporary sculptor and designer of 'the bust of Her Majesty which appeared on the coinage of 1893, still in currency (in 1902)', the reverse of the half crown, and the bust of 'H.M.' which appeared on Mint Diamond Jubilee medals: see Forrer, vol. 1, (1902), p. 166, the medal deisgns are also illustrated [summary].
Listed under Sculptors Biographical Dictionary of Medallists, Coin, Gem, and Seal-Engravers, Mint Masters, &c., Ancient and Modern with References to their Works, B.C. 500 - A.D. 1900, Volume VI, 1916 Biographical Dictionary of Medallists
Listed as a 'contemporary British sculptor, born in 1847; designer of the 1903 coinage of Queen Victoria'. See Forrer, vol. 6, (1916), p. 44.
Listed under Sculptors Post Office London Directory, 1890 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1890
p.1997
Listed under Sculptors Post Office London Directory, 1900 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1900 (Circa) - 1922 (Circa)
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
'Apprentice Modeller China'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
'Sculptor' also Thomas A Bickerton (born c.1840 in Worcester) 'Sculptor', a visitor
Sources
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Fourteenth Exhibition of Works of Modern Masters, 1910
November 1910
p. 48
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Twelfth Exhibition of Works of Modern Masters, 1906
September 1906
p. 51
Annual Report from the Council of The Royal Academy to the General Assembly of Academicians for the Year 1907, 1908 Royal Academy Annual Reports
1908
pp. 17, 24, 27
Annual Report from the Council of The Royal Academy to the General Assembly of Academicians for the Year 1916, 1917 Royal Academy Annual Reports
1917
pp. 19, 20, 27
Artists' Papers Register
2007
http://www.apr.ac.uk/artists/searches/artistrecs.asp?ARID=GB/NNAF/B543947 (accessed 03/08)
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: Papers relating to the founding of the Society
1888 (Circa)
'National Exhibition of the Arts'. Listed as one of 20 sculptors invited to be part of selection and hanging committee.
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the thirtieth, 1900 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1900
Cat. No. 1439, p. 39
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-eighth, 1898 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1898
pp. 45-48.
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-fourth, 1894 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1894
pp. 49-52.
Catalogue of the Special Loan Exhibition of Paintings of the British School, 1873-1903, and Sculpture, 1903
1903
p. 75 and p. 82.
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1899
1899
Cat. No. 566, p. 54
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1901
1901
Cat. No. 433, pp. 42, 54
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1909
1909
Cat. Nos. 493, 529, pp. 43, 47, 69
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
2004
RG09 piece 2094 folio 64 page 25
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
2004
Class: RG10; Piece: 207; Folio: 7; Page: 6; GSU roll: 824594
Goscombe John at the National Museum of Wales
1979
pp. 15-16
International Exhibition Glasgow, 1901,
Official Catalogue of the Fine Art Section
1901
International Exhibition, Dublin 1907, Fine Art Catalogue
1907
British Sculpture, Gallery II
List of Members: Royal Society of British Sculptors
2008
BRO/1904-22/2
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
2004
Mark Stocker, 'Brock, Sir Thomas (1847-1922)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32080, accessed 2 Feb 2010]
Post Office London Directory, 1890 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1890
p.1997
Post Office London Directory, 1900 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1900
p.2370
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, 1866-1906
1906
See entries for 1892-1893.
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, 1906-1927
1927
pp.5-11, p.42, p.44, p.46, p.86.
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Annual Report of Council and Accounts For the Year ending 21 December 1922. To be Presented at the Eighteenth Ordinary General Meeting, 1923
26 February 1923
p. 4
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Minutes of Council Meetings No. 1, 1905-1913
19 May 1913
5 February 1906; 6 July 1907; 1 June 1908; 4 April 1910; 19 December 1910; 4 January 1911; 18 May 1911; 18 September 1911; 9 October 1911; 20 January 1913.
Citing this record
'Sir Thomas Brock RA, KCB, PRBS, HRSA', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1208961220, accessed 25 May 2013]
