Oliver Wheatley
Born 13 February 1868
Died 20 October 1931
Active: 1892 - 1920
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, medallist, teacher
Born in Handsworth, Birmingham. He was the son of Richard Wheatley (born c.1827 in Leicestershire), a leather goods maker. Oliver was an award-winning student at Birmingham School of Art (Central School of Arts and Crafts) and then at the National Art Training School (Royal College of Art). At NATS Wheatley was a National Scholar (1891-2) and the recipient of a gold medal and travelling scholarship (probably in 1895). He taught briefly at Birmingham School of Art in 1890-91.
Over the next twenty years he enjoyed some considerable success, exhibiting widely including the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Liverpool Autumn Exhibition and Royal Academy of Arts. Amongst his more important commissions were the statues of Inigo Jones and Christopher Wren for the facade of Aston Webb's extension to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Wheatley also published a book on 'Ornamental Cement Work' (London, 1912). He was nominated to the Royal Society of British Sculptors and for membership of the Royal Academy. However, an entry in the RA nominations book for 26 March 1920, states 'certified in lunatic asylum'.
Oliver's brother, Richard who was a successful manufacturer, continued to promote his work. Richard donated a bronze entitled 'Sons of Poseidon', to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. In 1937, Richard and Frank Wheatley (another brother of the sculptor) gave a bronze cast of a 'Fireman' (from Oliver's plaster model) to the Central Fire Station in Birmingham. Richard Wheatley also bequeathed money to the city council to establish the Wheatley Trust to support students of sculpture and painting at the local art school. Oliver died at St. Andrew's Hospital, Northampton of aortic valve disease.
Includes information from 'The Birmingham Post', 22 May 1937. This entry has been enhanced by details submitted by Timothy Walton.
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.
Suggestion for a Memorial to South African Volunteers
Statuette
1891
Study from Life
1893 (Presumed)
Suggestion for Monument to South African Volunteers
1901 (Presumed)
Time and Tide
1903 (Presumed)
Sons of Poseidon
1908 (Circa)
Locations
Address 42 Brougham Street Birmingham | View on map
1891 (Presumed)
Address 34 Dawes Road Fulham London | View on map
1892
Address 15 Cadogan Street London | View on map
1893
Address Hotel de la Haute Loire Boulevard Raspail Paris | View on map
1895
Address 113 Rue Vaugirad Paris | View on map
1896
Address 22 Cadogan Street London | View on map
1897
Address 2A Flood Street Chelsea London | View on map
1898 (Circa) - 1900 (Circa)
Address 16 Buer Road Fulham London | View on map
1901
Address 21 Broomhouse Road Parson's Green London | View on map
1902 (Circa) - 1913 (Circa)
Address 90 Constitution Hill Birmingham | View on map
1920
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at Exhibition of Paintings, Drawings, Maps, Manuscripts, Rare Books, Fine Bindings, Etc. (National Library of Wales), 1928
'Sons of Poseidon'
Exhibited at Exhibition of Broadsides, Posters, Paintings, Prints, Drawings, Maps, Manuscripts, Books, Etc. (National Library, Aberystwyth), 1931
'Sons of Poseidon'
Exhibited at Exhibition of Paintings, Drawings, Maps, Manuscripts, Rare Books, Fine Bindings, Etc. (National Library of Wales), 1927
'Sons of Poseidon'
Exhibited at Exhibition of Old-Time Children's Book, Samplers, Manuscripts, Rare Books, Paintings, Etc. (National Library of Wales), 1929
'Sons of Poseidon'
Exhibited at The Twenty-Sixth Spring Exhibition, at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1891
'Statuette'
Exhibited at The Sixty-Seventh Autumn Exhibition at the Rooms of the Royal Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1893
'Study from Life'
Exhibited at The Seventy-Fifth Autumn Exhibition at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1901
'Suggestion for Monument to South African Volunteers'
Exhibited at The Seventy-Seventh Autumn Exhibition at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1903
'Time and Tide '
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1896
'Nine Medallions'
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1902
'Suggestion for a Memorial to South African Volunteers'
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-second (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1892
1892
When Toil should Cease (cat. no. 1342, not for sale).
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1892 - 1920
Exhibited 13 times, fifteen works in all (statuettes, medallions, reliefs and figure groups).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-fifth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1895
1895
Nine Medallions (cat. no. 1316, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-sixth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1896
1896
Prometheus (cat. no. 1237, low relief, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-eighth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1898
1898
Autumn (cat. no. 1389, panel in relief, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the thirty-first (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1901
1901
Awakening (cat. no. 1565, statue, £75).
Exhibited at International Exhibition, Dublin, 1907
1907
British Sculpture, Gallery II:
'Sons of Poseidon', p. 28 (229). Lent by the sculptor.
Exhibited at The Royal Scottish Academy Exhibition, 1826-
1913
Exhibited at the annual exhibition 1 time: 1913 (2 works)
Exhibited at Exhibition of Works by Local Artists (Nottingham Castle Museum), 1935
6 November 1935 - 6 December 1935
Exhibited 'The Sons of Poseidon (Neptune)', bronze group (1920) (unpaged, no. 76). The work may have been exhibited posthumously.
Institutional and Business Connections
Member of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1905 (Presumed) - 7 December 1908
Amongst the second wave of those invited to join 'without further nomination' [2 March 1905, Royal Society of British Sculptors, Minutes of Council Meetings, Vol.I]. Seems to have become member and then tried to resign in February 1907, at which point his resignation was not accepted [No reason stated, 7 February 1907, Royal Society of British Sculptors, Minutes of Council Meetings, Vol.I]. Resigned in 1908 [see separate entry]. Rejoined in 1914.
Rejoined Royal Society of British Sculptors
1914 - 1923
Was then member until 1923.
Resigned from Royal Society of British Sculptors
7 December 1908
Resigned in 1908 due to inability to pay subscription. Sent five shillings together with his resignation; the Society returned these with a note to the effect that, in better times, he might re-join the society. [7 December 1908, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1]. Rejoined in 1914.
Student at Birmingham Municipal School of Art, Central School
1888 - 1891
Awarded a silver medal for 'Modelled designs for door knockers,' in 1888.
Teacher of modeling at Birmingham Municipal School of Art, Central School
1890 - 1891
Listed together with Benjamin Creswick as working in the 'Modelling Room' of the Central School of the Birmingham Municipal School of Art.
Unsuccessful in ballot for election to Royal Academy of Arts
Perhaps because of mental illness? Unclear.
Personal and Professional Connections
Nominated by Thomas Brock
19 November 1907
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominated by (Edward) Alfred Briscoe Drury
19 November 1907
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominated by Frederick William Pomeroy
19 November 1907 - 24 February 1920
Two separate nominations for RA, in 1907 and 1920; unsuccessful.
Nominated by Reginald Theodore Blomfield
1 March 1920
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominated by Francis Bernard Dicksee
27 February 1920
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominated by Frank Short
1 March 1920
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominated by Henry Scott Tuke
10 March 1920
For RA; unsuccessful.
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Assistant Modelling Master'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Sculptor' working on own account
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Sculptor' working on public and private commissions, on own account at home
Sources
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-fifth, 1895 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1895
pp. 47-50.
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-sixth, 1896 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1896
pp. 45-48.
Catalogue of Old-Time Children's Books, Samplers, Manuscripts, Rare Books, Paintings, Etc., 1929
1929
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1896
1896
Cat. No. 559, pp. 50, 86
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1902
1902
Cat. No. 479, pp. 45, 73
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
RG12 piece 2428 folio 28 page 4
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2005
RG13 piece 66 folio 82 page 21
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2011
RG14PN351 RG78PN11 RD3 SD5 ED14 SN183
International Exhibition, Dublin 1907, Fine Art Catalogue
1907
British Sculpture, Gallery II:
p. 28, no. 229:'Sons of Poseidon'.
Lent by the Sculptor.
List of Members: Royal Society of British Sculptors
2008
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, 1906-1927
1927
p.8.
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Minutes of Council Meetings No. 1, 1905-1913
19 May 1913
2 March 1905; 7 February 1907; 7 December 1908.
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Minutes of Council Meetings No. 2, 1913-1922
1922 (Presumed)
17 November 1913
Twenty-Five Years of Birmingham Art, 1935 Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Exhibition Catalogues
1935
Unpaged.
Citing this record
'Oliver Wheatley', 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=msib1_1268058196, accessed 05 Jun 2023]
