Miss Frances Bessie Burlison
Born 2 May 1875
Died 12 January 1974 (Probable)
Active: 1899 - 1921
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor
Born in St. Pancras, London. She was the daughter of John Burlison (1843-91, born in Bilsdale, Yorks), a stained glass artist who was half of the highly successful partnership with Thomas Grylls. Frances exhibited with The Society of Lady Artists in 1898. In an exhibition review in The Times Frances Burlison's promising "decorative sculpture" is picked out, together with that of Miss Helen Langley. [The Times, Wednesday, Feb 02, 1898; pg. 11; Issue 35429; col F Art Exhibitions.]
Her later works include the bronze figure for the war memorial at Beaumont College: "The memorial, which is 33 feet in height, and constructed of white Portland stone, has been designed by Mr. G. Gilbert Scott, A.R.A., and Mr. A. Gilbert Scott, M.C. both of them old Beaumont boys. It takes the form of a large Greek cenotaph, embodying a calvary, with a life-size bronze figure modelled by Miss Frances Burlison, well known by her work at the Royal Academy. The figure is set in an arch, through which the background of trees is seen, and at the foot of the memorial is a massive stone altar for use in memorial services, and lateral wing walls extending some 50 feet in length." The Tablet, 19 November 1921, p.24 [http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/19th-november-1921/24/war-memorials, accessed 8 November 2015, reference provided by Anthony Hawkins]
There are at least two works in the Tate collection, including two watercolours by Arthur Boyd Houghton, which were donated by Burlison through the Art Fund in the late 1920s. She died in Hampstead where she had lived most of her life.
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.
Mowgle and Grey Brother
1901 (Presumed)
£15 15s.
Panel for Music Room
1901 (Presumed)
A Dutch Girl
1901 (Presumed)
A Naiad
1906
Sketch of a baby
1906 (Circa)
Locations
Address The Studio, 49 Haverstock Hill London | View on map
1901 (Presumed)
Studio located at 119 College Road Haverstock Hill London | View on map
1899 (Presumed)
Studio located in 2 Primrose Hill Studios Fitzroy Road London NW | View on map
1905 (Circa) - 1909 (Circa)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at Second Exhibition of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1899
'Mougli and Gray Brother'
Exhibited at Fifth Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1905
Multiple works
Exhibited at Exhibition of Fair Women (International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, London), 1909
'Baby at Breakfast'
Exhibited at Eighth Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1908
'Sketch of a Baby'
Exhibited at Ninth Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1909
Multiple works
Exhibited at Tenth Annual Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1910
'Baby'
Exhibited at Twelfth Annual Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1912
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Spring Exhibition of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1913
'Little Quaker Girl'
Exhibited at The Spring Exhibition of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (Sixteenth London Exhibition), 1914
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Spring Exhibition of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (Twentieth London Exhibition), 1916
'Netty, wife of Captain Towle'
Exhibited at The Summer Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (Twenty-third London Exhibition), 1918
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Autumn Exhibition of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (Twenty-fourth London Exhibition), 1918
'Memories'
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1906
'The Year's at the Spring'
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1908
Multiple works
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1909
'Pick-a-Back'
Exhibited at The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers Exhibition (Corporation of Manchester Art Gallery), 1905
'Baby Christopher'
Exhibited at Corporation of Manchester Art Gallery, Queen's Park Branch, Exhibition of Pictures Illustrating Childhood, 1907
'Boy and Tortoise'
Exhibited at Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1906
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1899 - 1917
Exhibited 12 times, 1 work per year.
Exhibited at Exhibition of the Bristol Academy, Annual Spring Exhibition for the Promotion of the Fine Arts, The Fifty-Sixth, 1901
1901
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Private means and artist'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Artist Sculp'
Sources
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Twelfth Exhibition of Works of Modern Masters, 1906
September 1906
p. 50
Exhibited two sculptures
Catalogue of the Exhibition of Pictures Illustrating Childhood, 1907
1907
Cat. No. 210, p. 32
Catalogue of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters & Gravers' Exhibition, Corporation of Manchester Art Gallery, 1905
1905
Cat. No. 329, pp. 47, 53
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, 1913, held at the Grosvenor Gallery, 51a New Bond Street., W.
1913
p.27.
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, 1914, held at the Grosvenor Gallery, 51a New Bond Street., W. (Sixteenth London Exhibition)
1914
p.33, p.38.
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, 1916, held at the Grosvenor Gallery, 51a New Bond Street., W. (Twentieth London Exhibition)
1916
p.17, p.72.
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1906
1906
Cat. No. 444, 447, 448, pp. 41, 42, 80
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1908
1908
Cat. No. 379, pp. 35, 74
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1909
1909
Cat. No. 240, pp. 25, 69
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 138; Folio: 44; Page: 38; GSU Roll: 6095248
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2001
Class: RG13; Piece: 1227; Folio: 19; Page: 29
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2009
RG14PN3264 RG78PN123 RD38 SD1 ED21 SN119
England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2007
2007
Name: Frances Bessie Burlison
Birth Date: 2 May 1875
Date of Registration: Mar 1974
Age at Death: 98
Registration district: Hampstead
Inferred County: Greater London
Volume: 5b
Page: 2084
London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
2010
Name: Bessey Frances Burlison
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 27 Jun 1875
Father's name: John Burlison
Mother's name: Elizabeth Sarah Burlison
Parish or Poor Law Union: Oseney Crescent St Luke
Borough: Camden
Register Type: Parish Registers
London Metropolitan Archives, Oseney Crescent St Luke, Register of Baptism, P90/LUK, Item 001
The Times Digital Archive 1785-1985
2008
The Times, Monday, Jan 14, 1974; pg. 22; Issue 58987; col B; Deaths Category: Deaths
Citing this record
'Miss Frances Bessie Burlison', 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_1203033266, accessed 04 Feb 2023]
