George Frederick Halse
Born 1 May 1826
Died 21 December 1895
Active: 1855 - 1893
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, bank clerk (manager), author
Born in Pimlico, London. He was the son of John Halse, a state page at St. James's Palace, and Clarissa Fenwick. John Halse gained the patronage of William IV for his son George, with the result that the latter was admitted to St Paul's School in 1833 at the request of the monarch. However plans for studying for the church were frustrated by William IV's death and George's schooling ended in 1841. He joined Drummond's Bank at Charing Cross in December 1846 and worked there until his death in 1895. Over the course of his career George rose to become Chief Clerk (Manager) in 1891.
Despite Halse's career at the bank, he was a prolific sculptor, producing about ninety works. He also published novels, verse romances, occasional poems and a manual of sculpture, 'A Guide to Modelling', which went into many editions and was still in print c.1920. His verse romance 'Sir Guy de Guy' was a collaboration with his friend, Hablot Knight Browne (1815–1882) better known as Phiz and for his work illustrating Charles Dickens' novels. From 1857 until the early 1890s George exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy, the British Institution, and also at the Royal Hibernian Academy, Manchester City Art Gallery, the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts. Halse died suddenly of heart failure having served only 39 of an intended 40 years at Drummonds' Bank.
This entry draws extensively on the research of Elizabeth Farningham.
Wealth at death: £4,872 1s. 2d.
Probate date: 20 January 1896
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.
Lesbia
1859
Nora Creina
1859
Sunshine
1860
The Playmates
1860
Showers
1860
The Shower
1860 (Presumed)
Nora Creina
1860 (Presumed)
The Dawn of Thought - Statuette
1862
Sculptor listed as G. Holse. Presuming this is a typing error, and should read G. Halse.
The Mask
1863
My Dog in Disgrace
1867
My Dog in Favour
1867
Hush
1870 (Presumed)
Young England
1871
In Disgrace
1875
In Favour
1875
The May Queen
1876 (Presumed)
Playmates and Messmates
1876 (Presumed)
The Weary Gleaner
1876 (Presumed)
The hop queen
1878
Parted friends
1878
At the spring
1879
An English Rose
1879
The Lady of the Lake
1880
The Vigil
1880 (Presumed)
Frolic
1882
The Tarpeian Rock
1883
Maternal anxiety
1884
A passing glance
1884
A Passing Glance
1885 (Presumed)
Locations
Address 2 Adelaide Terrace Kensington London
1851 (Circa)
Address 5 St. Ann's Villa Notting Hill London W
1860 (Circa) - 1866 (Circa)
1866 moves back to Clarendon Road residence
Address 15 Clarendon Road Notting Hill London W
1878 - 1895
Living here at the time of his death.
Address 11 Athelstan Road Margate
1891
On holiday here with his wife and daughter, Emmeline Halse.
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at The International Exhibition, London, 1862
'Defending the Pass'
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1859
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1860
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1862
Multiple works
Exhibited at Exhibition of Modern Works of Art, at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Birmingham Society of Artists), 1860
Multiple works
Exhibited at Exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture, at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1870
'Hush'
Exhibited at Fifth Annual Autumn Exhibition of Modern Pictures in Oil and Water Colour, and Architectural Designs, &c. (Nottingham Castle Museum), 1885
Multiple works
Exhibited at Yorkshire Fine Art Society, Autumn Exhibition, 1880
Multiple works
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1894
'Her First Bracelet'
Exhibited at Royal Manchester Institution, Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, 1879
'The Village Maid'
Exhibited at Royal Manchester Institution, Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, 1880
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Manchester Institution, Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, 1881
'The Hop Queen'
Exhibited at Royal Manchester Institution, Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, 1877
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Manchester Institution, Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, 1882
'The Late Earl of Beaconsfield'
Exhibited at Royal Manchester Institution, Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, 1874
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Manchester Institution, Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, 1875
'The Trysting Tree (Rosetta)'
Exhibited at Royal Manchester Institution, Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, 1876
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Manchester Institution, Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, 1878
'The Vigil'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Fifty-Second, 1878
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Fifty-Third, 1879
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Fifty-Sixth, 1882
'Frolic'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Fifty-Seventh, 1883
'The Tarpeian Rock'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Fifty-Eighth, 1884
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Fifty-Fourth, 1880
'The Lady of the Lake'
Exhibited at Exhibition of Works of Living Artists, The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, 1863
Multiple works
Exhibited at Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, 1867
Multiple works
Exhibited at Tenth Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, 1871
'Young England'
Exhibited at Fourteenth Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, 1875
'In Favour'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The Eighty-Seventh, 1855
p.56
Exhibited at International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures, Dublin, 1865
p. 106, no. 118. 'Eve - Marble'.
Offered for sale 163-0-0.
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1855 - 1888
Exhibited 30 times, average 2 works per year.
Exhibited at Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the fifth (Free Public Library and Museum, Liverpool), 1875
1875
The May Queen (cat. no. 1084, marble, £31 10s.); Parted Friends (cat. no. 1096, plaster model, £5 5s.); The Weary Gleaner (cat. no. 1103, not for sale).
Exhibited at Art Treasures Exhibition of North Wales and The Border Counties at Wrexham, 1876
22 July 1876 - 1876
Exhibited at Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the seventh (Liverpool), 1877
1877
An English Rose (cat. no. 1311, plaster model, £5 5s.).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the eighth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1878
1878
Far away! (cat. no. 1038, marble, £47 5s.; Playmates and Messmates (cat. no. 1056, marble, £57 15s.).
Exhibited at Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the ninth (Liverpool), 1879
1879
In Disgrace (cat. no. 1349, bronze, c. £4); In Favour (cat. no. 1351, bronze, c. £4).
Exhibited at Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the tenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1880
1880
The Hop Queen (cat. no. 1049, marble, £42).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the eleventh (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1881
1881
Frolic (cat. no. 1420, £4 4s.).
Exhibited at Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the thirteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1883
1883
Maternal Anxiety (cat. no. 1632, £4 4s.).
Exhibited at Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the fourteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1884
1884
A Passing Glance (cat. no. 2267, £31 10s.).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the nineteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1889
1889
A Passing Glance (cat. no. 1494, marble, £31 10s.).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the twentieth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1890
1890
'Hark! hark! the lark!' (cat. no. 1303, marble group, £52 10s.).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-first (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1891
1891
Her First Bracelet, marble bust (cat. no. 1227, sketch, p. 115, £42)
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-second (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1892
1892
Frolic (cat. no. 1334, marble statuette, £42); Boy Holding Fish (cat. no. 1335, statuette plaster, not for sale).
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
'Banking Clerk'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
'Banker's Clerk'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
'Banker's Clerk'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
'Clerk in a Bank'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Bank Manager' worker and his daughter Emmeline Halse 'Sculptor'
Sources
Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the twentieth, 1890 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1890
pp. 46-48.
Catalogue of the Art Treasures Exhibition of North Wales and the Border Counties
1876
Catalogue of the Autumn Exhibition (Yorkshire Fine Art Society, Leeds) 1880
1880
Cat. No. 483, p. 52
Catalogue of the Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, City of Manchester Art Gallery, 1874
1874
Cat. Nos. 684, 702, pp. 63, 64, 71
Catalogue of the Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, City of Manchester Art Gallery, 1875
1875
Cat. Nos. 807, 809, 812, pp. 75, 83
Catalogue of the Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, City of Manchester Art Gallery, 1876
1876
Cat. Nos. 922, 924, 933, pp. 81, 89
Catalogue of the Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, City of Manchester Art Gallery, 1877
1877
Cat. Nos. 995, 1016, pp. 83, 86, 95
Catalogue of the Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, City of Manchester Art Gallery, 1878
1878
Cat. No. 1047, pp. 87, 98
Catalogue of the Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, City of Manchester Art Gallery, 1879
1879
Cat. No. 1023, pp. 82, 91
Catalogue of the Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, City of Manchester Art Gallery, 1880
1880
Cat. No. 1166, pp. 90, 99
Catalogue of the Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, City of Manchester Art Gallery, 1881
1881
Cat. No. 1487, p. 115
Catalogue of the Exhibition of the Works of Modern Artists, City of Manchester Art Gallery, 1882
1882
Cat. Nos. 1312, 1313, pp. 100, 111
Catalogue of the First Spring Exhibition 1880
1880
Cat. Nos. 711, 714, pp. 62, x
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1894
1894
Cat. No. 597, pp. 53, 101
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
2005
Class: HO107; Piece: 1468; Folio: 848; Page: 35; GSU roll: 87790-87791
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
2005
Class: RG 9; Piece: 15; Folio: 86; Page: 30; GSU roll: 542556
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
2004
Class: RG10; Piece: 39; Folio: 6; Page: 8; GSU roll: 838761
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 729; Folio: 31; Page: 10; GSU Roll: 6095839
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: George Frederick Halse
Probate Date: 20 Jan 1896
Death Date: 21 Dec 1895
Death Place: Middlesex, England
Registry: London, England
George Halse Sculptor, 1826-1895
2002
International exhibition 1862, official catalogue, fine art department
1862
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1875 Walker Art Gallery
1875
pp. 41-42.
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1877 Walker Art Gallery
1877
pp. 69-71.
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1879 Walker Art Gallery
1879
pp. 79-82.
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1880 Walker Art Gallery
1880
pp. 67-69.
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1881 Walker Art Gallery
1881
pp. 81-82.
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1883 Walker Art Gallery
1883
pp. 93-94.
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1884 Walker Art Gallery
1884
pp. 129-132.
London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
2010
Name: George Frederick Halse
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 26 Oct 1826
Father's Name: John Halse
Mother's name: Clarissa Halse
Parish or Poor Law Union: St George Hanover Square
Borough: Westminster
Register Type: Bishop's Transcript
London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
2010
Name: George Frederic Halse
Spouse Name: Matilda Lydia Davis
Record Type: Marriage
Event Date: 11 Jun 1849
Parish: St Andrew Holborn
Borough: City of London
Father Name: John Halse
Spouse Father: Thomas Davis
Register Type: Parish Register
Official Catalogue of Dublin International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures 1865
1865
p. 106, no. 118. 'Eve - Marble'.
Offered for sale 163-0-0.
Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, Catalogue of the Thirty-Fourth Exhibition, 1862
1862
The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The Eighty-Seventh, 1855
1855
p.56
Citing this record
'George Frederick Halse', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [https://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib6_1211885728, accessed 04 Dec 2023]
