Laurence Henderson Bradshaw

Born 1 April 1899
Died 11 March 1978

Active: 1916 - 1978

Country of birth and death: England

Sculptor, painter, engraver, stage designer, author

Born in Liscard (Wallasey), Cheshire. According to his family and confirmed by his baptismal record, Laurence's father was Peter Bradshaw, a commercial traveller. However, based on the Census Returns, probably by 1901 and certainly by 1911 Laurence and his mother, Annie Henderson (born c.1866 or c.1871 in Scotland) were described as son and wife of John Bradshaw (born in Liverpool or Warrington, Lancashire c.1869), antique dealer and bookseller. It is presumed that Peter Bradshaw changed his name to John c.1900.

Laurence started his higher education at the University of Liverpool during the First World War and then (c.1916) began studying painting at Liverpool School of Art with William Penn. He was advised to study sculpture as well and, after attending some classes in Liverpool (presumably under Charles John Allen then teacher of modelling), he completed his studies in London and Paris. In London, Bradshaw studied at Leon Underwood's Brook Green School of Drawing (dates uncertain). During the mid-1920s Bradshaw worked first as a pupil and then as an assistant to Sir Frank Brangwyn.

One of Bradshaw's earliest commissions for sculpture was a series of low reliefs c.1928 for the Brompton Oratory (London) depicting the life of Saint Philip Neri founder of the Oratorian Order. Other commissions followed including: Radcliff Maternity Home (1935); Watford Town Hall; Cambridge Guild Hall; the County Offices in Winchester; and Worthing Town Hall. Private commissions were also an important part of his practice, over a long career he made many portrait busts of writers, politicians, poets, journalists and actors. His most famous work, however, was the memorial to Karl Marx in Highgate Cemetery (1956). This reflected his political beliefs. Bradshaw was a committed communist and worked actively in politics throughout his career.

This record includes information submitted by Eileen Bradshaw and Ann Parker.

Citing this record

'Laurence Henderson Bradshaw', 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=ann_1269000135, accessed 25 Sep 2023]

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