Sir William Goscombe John RA
Born 21 March 1860
Died 15 December 1952
Active: 1888 - 1951
Country of birth and death: Wales
Sculptor, medallist
Born in Cardiff, elder son of Thomas John (1834–1893), woodcarver. Daughter, Muriel Goscombe, married Frederick Luke Val Fildes, the son of the painter Sir Luke Fildes.
Wealth at death: £35,150 10s. 5d.
Probate date: 6 March 1953
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.
St John the Baptist and St George
Acquired Boy in Pain
National Eisteddfod Association Medal
1896 (Circa)
National Eisteddfod Association Medal (plaster proof)
1896 (Circa)
National Eisteddfod Association Medal (bronze proof)
1896 (Circa)
The Rev. Lewis Edwards, MA, DD (1809-1887)
1887 (Presumed)
The Reaper whose name is Death
1888 (Presumed)
£25
A Portrait Study
1888 (Presumed)
A Vision of Immortality
1888 (Presumed)
Mother
1890 (Presumed)
Boy at play
1895
Morpheus
1895 (Circa)
Morpheus
1896 (Presumed)
The Late J. S. Corbett, Esq.
1896 (Presumed)
Dr Taylor, MD, JP
1896 (Presumed)
The Rev. Canon Thompson, DD
1896 (Presumed)
St John Baptist
1896 (Presumed)
Grief
1896 (Presumed)
St John the Baptist
1897 (Presumed)
£21
St George
1897 (Presumed)
£21
The Glamour of the Rose
1898 (Presumed)
£125
The Elf
1898
The Elf
1899
£1050
A Maid so Young
1899 (Presumed)
£55
Spring
1899 (Presumed)
£26
Medal for the National Eisteddfod Association
1899 (Presumed)
£15 15s.
Portrait relief of a lady
1900 (Presumed)
Sir Lewis Morris
1900 (Presumed)
A Medal (Obverse and Reverse) in Electrotype
1900 (Circa)
Study of a Head
1900
The Glamour of the Rose
1900 (Circa)
Childhood
1900 (Circa)
Statuette
1900
The late Duke of Devonshire, KG
1901
Boy at Play
1901
St John the Baptist
1901
The Elf
1901
Study of a Head
1901
Childhood
1901 (Presumed)
St John the Baptist
1901 (Presumed)
A Boy at Play
1901 (Presumed)
The late Duke of Devonshire
1901 (Presumed)
A vision
1902
T. H. Thomas, Esq., RCA
1903 (Presumed)
Hermes
1903
Babyhood
1906 (Circa)
A Drummer Boy
1906 (Circa)
Babyhood
1907 (Presumed)
A Boy at Play
1911
The Elf
1911
The Crusader
1912 (Presumed)
£50
Basil
11 May 1912 - 8 June 1912
Hermes
1913 (Presumed)
Sir William James Thomas
1915 (Presumed)
Colonel Bruce-Vaughn, VD, JP
1915 (Presumed)
A Scout (Basil)
1915 (Presumed)
Boy at Play
1915 (Presumed)
Taliesin
1915 (Presumed)
A Laughing Boy
1915 (Presumed)
Florence Nightingale
1915 (Presumed)
Abraham
1915 (Presumed)
Jacob
1915 (Presumed)
David
1915 (Presumed)
Moses
1915 (Presumed)
Isaiah
1915 (Presumed)
St David
1915
Field-Marshal Earl Kitchener of Khartoum, K.G.
1918 (Presumed)
Merlin and Arthur
1919
Pro Patria
1924 (Presumed)
£89 5s.
Merlin and Arthur
1926 (Presumed)
£89 5s.
Head of a Girl
1926 (Presumed)
£89 5s.
D. R. Paterson, MD, FSA
1927 (Presumed)
The Late Sir J. Herbert Lewis, GBE, LLD, President of the National Library of Wales 1926-1927
1927
Evelyn
1927
Boy scout
1927
Two portrait plaques
1927
Rt Hon. David Lloyd, OM, MP
1928
The drummer boy
1928
Dreamland
1931 (Presumed)
£47 5s.
Sir John Williams, Bart, GCVO, President of the National Library of Wales 1909-1926
1931 (Presumed)
The Right Honourable Lord Davies of Llandinam, LLD, President of the National Library of Wales 1927-
1935
The 1st Lord Davies (of Llandinam), 1880-1944
1944 (Presumed)
Llanystumdwy School
1945 (Presumed)
The Versailles Conference
4 August 1947 - 9 August 1945
David Lloyd George (1863-1945)
1945 (Presumed)
Locations
Address Union Street Llandaff | View on map
1861 (Circa)
Address 18 Picton Place Cardiff | View on map
1871 (Circa)
Address 46 Wyndham Street Llandaff Cardiff | View on map
1881 (Circa)
Address 34 Finchley Road London NW | View on map
1892 (Circa) - 1895
Address 24 Greville Road Carlton Hill London NW | View on map
1904 - 1945
Studio located in 2 Woronzow Studios Woronzow Road London | View on map
1894 (Circa) - 1908 (Circa)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Adjudicated Art Exhibitions of the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales. Competitive Exhibits at the Patti Pavilion, 1926
26 July 1926 - 12 August 1926
Adjudicator for Section III. Sculpture., competition nos. 21, 22 and 23.
Adjudicated The Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales Arts, Crafts and Loan Exhibition, 1933
24 July 1933 - 12 August 1933
Adjudicated competition nos 135 and 136.
Award received from Prize for Distinguished Service to Sculpture (Royal Society of British Sculptors), 1923-1949
1941 - 1942
Awarded in 1941, presented to John in 1942
Exhibited at Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru National Museum of Wales Exhibition of Works by Certain Modern Artists of Welsh Birth or Extraction, 1913
'Hermes'
Exhibited at Exhibition in aid of the funds of the Welsh Military Hospital, Netley, 1913
Multiple works
Exhibited at South Wales Art Society 39th Annual Exhibition of Modern Pictures, 1927
'D. R. Paterson, MD, FSA'
Exhibited at Eisteddfod Llawlyfr Celf a Chrefft, 1947
Multiple works
Exhibited at Exhibition of International Art (International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, London), 1898
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Annual Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (Twenty-ninth London Exhibition), 1925
'Head of a Negro'
Exhibited at Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: Sixth Exhibition, 1899
'St John the Baptist and St George'
Exhibited at The Thirty-sixth Spring Exhibition at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1901
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Eighty-First Autumn Exhibition at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1907-1908
'Babyhood'
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1901
Multiple works
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1909
'The Drummer Boy'
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the thirtieth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1900
'Muriel'
Exhibited at City of Manchester Art Gallery, Exhibition of Modern Oil Paintings and Sculpture, 1913
'A Boy at Play'
Exhibited at Laing Art Gallery and Museum, Special Loan Collection of Selected Modern Pictures, 1923
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Exhibition of The Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Ninety-Sixth, 1922
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Seventy-Sixth, 1902
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Seventy-Seventh, 1903
'Hermes'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Eighty-Second, 1908
'The Elf'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Eighty-Ninth, 1915
'The Elf'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The One-Hundred-and-First, 1927
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The One-Hundred-and-Second, 1928
Multiple works
Exhibited at Thirty-Fourth Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, 1895
'Morpheus'
Exhibited at The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts Fifty-Eighth Annual Exhibition, 1919
'Merlin and Arthur'
Exhibited at The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts Sixty-Second Annual Exhibition, 1923
'Evelyn'
Exhibited at Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1900
'Childhood'
Exhibited at Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1906
'Babyhood'
Exhibited at South Wales Art Society and Sketching Club 1st Annual Exhibition, 1888
1888
Exhibited at South Wales Art Society 3rd Annual Exhibition, 1890
1890
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the twentieth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1890
1890
Parting (cat. no. 1306, group, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-second (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1892
1892
Study of a Head (cat. no. 1350, bronze, not for sale).
Exhibited at Cardiff Fine Art, Industrial and Maritime Exhibition, 1896
May 1896 - 30 September 1896
Goscombe John only contributed 1 of his works to the exhibition, but an additional 5 were contributed by other people.
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-sixth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1896
1896
The Glamour of the Rose (cat. no. 1220, relief, not for sale).
Exhibited at South Wales Art Society 10th Annual Exhibition of Pictures, 1897
1897
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-seventh (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1897
1897
A Maid so Young (cat. no. 1342, bronzed plaster bust, illustrated on p. 114, £52 10s.).
Exhibited at South Wales Art Society 11th Annual Exhibition, 1898
3 October 1898 - 26 November 1898
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-eighth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1898
1898
A Study (cat. no. 1464, bronze bust, not for sale); A Drinking Horn and Silver Stand (cat. no. 1465, silver gilt, illustrated on p. 111, not for sale).
Exhibited at South Wales Art Society 12th Annual Exhibition, 1899
1899 - July 1899
Exhibited at Swansea Art Society Thirteenth Annual Exhibition of Paintings, Drawings, Sculpture, Photographs, Wood Carving, Art Needlework, Etc., 1899
20 May 1899 - 19 June 1899
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-ninth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1899
1899
The late Dean Vaughan (cat. no. 1341, plaster bust, not for sale); A Memorial Figure (cat. no. 1402, bronzed plaster, not for sale); Sir Lewis Morris (cat. no. 1435, plaster bust, not for sale); The Elf (cat. no. 1439, marble statue, not for sale).
Exhibited at South Wales Art Society 13th Annual Exhibition, 1900
1900
Exhibited at International Exhibition, Glasgow, 1901
1901
Exhibited at South Wales Art Society 14th Annual Exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture, 1901
1901
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of pictures & sculpture: the thirty-second (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1902
1902
The late T. E. Ellis, MP (cat. no. 1389, plaster bust, not for sale); Herbert Ward, Esq. (cat. no. 1438, plaster bust, not for sale).
Exhibited at Special Loan Exhibition of Paintings of the British School 1878-1903, and Sculpture (Nottingham Castle Museum), 1903
September 1903
Goscombe John exhibited one sculpture (undated).
Exhibited at South Wales Art Society 16th Annual Exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture, 1903
1903
Exhibited at International Exhibition, Dublin, 1907
1907
British Sculpture, Gallery II: 'The Glamour of the Rose' (plaster relief), p. 24 (172); 'Muriel' (plaster statuette), p. 29 (236); 'The Elf' (life-size, plaster), p. 29 (239). All works lent by the sculptor.
Exhibited at South Wales Art Society 25th Annual Exhibition of Modern Pictures, 1912
11 May 1912 - 8 June 1912
Exhibited at Exhibition of the Bristol Academy, Annual Spring Exhibition for the Promotion of the Fine Arts, The Sixty-Eighth, 1913
1913
Exhibited at The Seventy-Third Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy, 1918
1918
Exhibited at The Seventy-Ninth Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy, 1924
1924
Exhibited at Art Exhibitions of the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales. Loan Collections at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, 1926
26 July 1926 - 12 August 1926
Exhibited at Exhibition of Paintings, Drawings, Maps, Manuscripts, Rare Books, Fine Bindings, Etc. (National Museum of Wales), 1930
31 May 1930 - 31 October 1930
Exhibited at South Wales Art Society 43rd Annual Exhibition of Modern Art, 1931
2 October 1931 - 21 October 1931
Exhibited at Exhibition of Broadsides, Posters, Paintings, Prints, Drawings, Maps, Manuscripts, Books, Etc. (National Library, Aberystwyth), 1931
29 May 1931 - 31 October 1931
Exhibited at The Annual Exhibition (National Library of Wales), 1936
1936
Exhibition committee member for The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The One Hundred and Forty-Ninth (Summer Exhibition), 1917
11 April 1917 - 23 April 1917
Responsible for the arrangement of sculpture. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1917' (1918), p. 27.
Exhibition committee member for The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The One Hundred and Fifty-Sixth (Summer Exhibition), 1924
8 April 1924 - 15 April 1924
Responsible for the arrangement of sculpture. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1924' (1925), p. 26.
Exhibition committee member for Works by the Late Sir H. Thornycroft, RA, and F. Derwent Wood, RA (Royal Academy of Arts), 1927
January 1927 - February 1927
Involved in Franco-British Exhibition of Science, Art and Industries (London), 1908
2 March 1908 - 2 March
Was appointed part of Royal Society of British Sculptors' sub-committee of selection for the Franco-British Exhibition (2 March 1908, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no. 1).
Selection committee member of Chantrey Bequest (Chantrey Fund; Royal Academy of Arts), 1875-1948
1910 - 1930
Served on the selection committee for sculpture from 1910 to 1912, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1924 and 1926 (Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1909', 1910, p. 24). In 1927, John is listed as a member of the 'Recommending Committee for Sculpture' ('Annual Report, 1927', 1928, p. 77). He served on the Recommending Committee again in 1929 and 1930.
Selection committee member of The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts, The One Hundred and Sixty-Third (Summer Exhibition), 1931
8 April 1931 - 20 April 1931
Served on the Selection Committee, and responsible for the arrangement of sculpture. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1931' (1932), p. 32.
Selection committee member of Lady Feodora Gleichen Fund (Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Society of British Sculptors), 1922-1951
1938 - 1940
Speaker at The Sculptor's Craft (Art Workers Guild), 1899
Won prize Landseer Scholarships (Royal Academy of Arts), 1884-1950
1887
Institutional and Business Connections
Associated with Mees and Richards
1912 (Circa) - 1949 (Circa)
Committee member of Royal Academy Schools
1924
Served on the Selection Committee (junior half of the Council), in 1924. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1923', (1924), p. 31.
Elected ARA Royal Academy of Arts
31 January 1899 - 27 January 1909
Elected RA in 1909.
Elected RA Royal Academy of Arts
27 January 1909 - 1 January 1936
Then became Senior RA until his death in 1952
Fellow of Royal Society of British Sculptors
December 1928 - 1952
Asked to re-join the society and was reinstated in 1928. Became honorary member in 1952.
Honorary member of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1951 - 1952
Died in 1952.
Lectured at Royal Academy Schools
1 February 1906
Lectured on 'Modern Sculpture'. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1906', (1907), p. 45.
Member of The South Wales Art Society
1888 - 1923
Honorary membership between 1899-1923
Ordinary membership between 1888-1890
Not listed as a member in 1897
Member of Art Workers Guild
1891 - 1923 (Presumed)
Committee member 1894-1896, resigned 1900, made honorary member 1921-1923.
Member of The Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society
1894 (Presumed) - 1899 (Presumed)
Was member of committee from at least 1894-1899.
Member of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1904 - 1914
Amongst those 'Invited to join without the formality of proposal and seconding' [January 10 1905, Royal Society of British Sculptors, Minutes of Council Meetings, Vol.I].
Had been council member but asked in 1909 that his name should not be forwarded for re-election [4 January 1909, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Resigned in 1914 only to rejoin as a fellow in 1929.
Member of Royal Cambrian Academy of Art
1904 - 1952
William Goscombe John was an Honorary Member of the Royal Cambrian Academy and does not appear to have ever exhibited at one of their annual exhibitions.
Member of council Royal Academy of Arts
1910 - 1932
Served as a member of the Council from 1910 to 1911, 1917 to 1918, 1924 to 1925, and from 1931 to 1932. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1909', (1910), p. 31.
Note that in 1922, John served on the 'Recommending Committee for Sculpture'. See 'Annual Report, 1922', (1923), p. 76.
Member of panel at The Glasgow School of Art
1898
Examination Panel for 'Modelling Designs'
Resigned from Royal Society of British Sculptors
February 1914 - February
He resigned from the RBS (together with the President, George Frampton, and several members of 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. The quarrel was resolved in 1926 when it transpired that Frampton had been acting on the direct request of the patron, Lord Rhondda. The vote of censure was then expunged.
Studied at Royal Academy Schools
13 March 1884 - 1889 (Presumed)
Start date is given in Popp and Valentine, 'Royal Academy of Arts Directory of Membership', (1996), p. 66. John was awarded a £10 prize for a model of a statue or group in 1884. See 'Annual Report, 1884', (1885), p. 43. In 1885, he won a second prize of £20 for a set of two models of a figure from the life; he was awarded this prize again in 1886, but was disqualified having recieved this prize in 1885. See 'Annual Report, 1885', (1886), p. 34. Goscombe John was awarded a first prize silver medal for a model of a figure from the life, in 1886. See 'Annual Report, 1886', (1887), p. 33. In 1887, he was awarded a £50 first prize for a set of three models of a figure from the life, and a £30 first prize for a model of a design. See 'Annual Report, 1887', (1888), p. 32. In 1889 Goscombe John won the gold medal and travelling studentship of £200 for a composition in sculpture. See 'Annual Report, 1889', (1890), p.36.
Teacher at Royal Academy Schools
Vice-president of The South Wales Art Society
1926 - 1951
Visitor at Royal Academy Schools
1900 - 1914
Listed as a visitor to the School of Modelling from the Life from 1900 to 1914. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1899', (1900), p. 33. Listed again as a visitor from October 1926 to June 1927. See 'Annual Report, 1926', (1927), p. 32.
Personal and Professional Connections
Assistant was Louis Reid Deuchars
1903 - 1905
Assistant was Alexander R. Fraser
1910 (Circa)
See 'Register of R. C. A. Students' (1907-1924), p. 32. Fraser's profession upon leaving the College in 1910 is listed as 'Assistant to W. Goscombe John, R. A.'
Assistant was Harold Parker
1911 (Circa)
http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110141b.htm?hilite=parker%3Bharold accessed 12 December 2009
Assistant was Harold James Youngman
1912 (Circa)
Left the Royal College of Art in the 1911-1912 session and is listed as 'Sculptors Assistant to Sir [another initial is inserted here that is unclear in the manuscript but presumably W.] Goscombe John - R. A.': see 'Register of R. C. A. Students' (1907-1924), p. 58. Youngman's obituary in 'The Times' by Charles Wheeler confirms this connection.
Daughter/son/child of Thomas John
Employee of Thomas Nicholls
Feud with Thomas Brock
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].
Gave award to Fanindra Nath Bose
Assessor of Bose at The Edinburgh College of Art.
Nominated by Thomas Brock
15 November 1892
For RA.
Nominator of Henry Gunthorp
28 February 1906
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Nominator of Benjamin Clemens
19 November 1907
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Basil Gotto
19 November 1907 - 15 March 1927
Two nominations for RA, in 1907 and 1927, both unsuccessful.
Nominator of Arthur George Walker
19 November 1907
For RA.
Nominator of Henry Poole
2 December 1907
For RA.
Nominator of Harold Parker
2 December 1907 - 15 March 1927
Two nominations for RA, in 1907 and 1927, both unsuccessful.
Nominator of George Alexander
7 December 1908
For membership of Royal Society of British Sculptors [7 December 1908, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Nominator of Sidney Nicholson Boyes
2 November 1908
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors [2 November 1908, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Nominator of Vincent Hill
7 December 1908
For membership of Royal Society of British Sculptors [7 December 1908, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Nominator of James Havard Thomas
23 January 1908
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Herbert William Ward
2 March 1908
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Nominator of George Duncan MacDougald
4 January 1909
For membership of Royal Society of British Sculptors [4 January 1909, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Nominator of Leonard Stanford Merrifield
4 January 1909
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors [4 January 1909, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Nominator of Mervyn Herapath
21 November 1910
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors [21 November 1910, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Nominator of Stanley Nicholson Babb
1912
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Mortimer John Brown
1912
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Ernest George Gillick
1912
For RA.
Nominator of Richard Louis Garbe
4 May 1912 - 15 March 1927
Two nominations for RA, in 1912 and 1927.
Nominator of Alexander James Leslie
1912 (Presumed)
For RA; cancelled nomination at an unspecified date.
Nominator of (Alfred) Adrian Jones
17 June 1912
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors [17 June 1912, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Nominator of (Alfred) Adrian Jones
24 January 1913
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Thomas John Clapperton
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].
Nominator of Thomas Mewburn Crook
26 April 1917
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Charles Web Gilbert
30 April 1917 (Presumed) - 26 January 1925 (Presumed)
Two nominations for RA, in 1917 and 1925, both unsuccessful.
Nominator of Leonard Stanford Merrifield
26 April 1917 - 1925
Two nominations for RA, in 1917 and 1925, both unsuccessful.
Nominator of Paul Raphael Montford
1918
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Charles Sargeant Jagger
31 March 1919
For RA.
Nominator of Gilbert Ledward
31 March 1919
For RA.
Nominator of William Reid Dick
31 March 1919
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Gilbert William Bayes
1 March 1920
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of William Ernest Reynolds-Stephens
1 March 1920
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Albert Arthur Toft
1 March 1920
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Alfred Turner
22 April 1920
For RA.
Nominator of Edwin Whitney-Smith
22 April 1920 - November 1932
Two nominations for RA, in 1920 and 1932, both unsuccessful.
Nominator of William McMillan
21 March 1922 (Presumed)
For RA.
Nominator of John Angel
19 March 1924
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of James Alexander Stevenson
14 July 1925
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Charles Leighfield Jonah Doman
30 March 1931 - March 1940
Two nominations for Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA], in 1931 and 1940, both unsuccessful.
Nominator of John Francis Kavanagh
22 April 1937
For Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA]; unsuccessful.
Nominator of Estcourt James Clack
1940 (Presumed)
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors
Nominator of Josephine Alys Hermes de Vasconcellos
1941
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors
Patron to Fanindra Nath Bose
Goscombe John acquired 'Boy in Pain', 1913 and 'The Hunter', 1914 from Bose. Both sculptures were included in gifts of works from Goscombe John to the National Museum of Wales in 1925 and 1928.
Seconded by Andrew C. Gow
15 November 1892
For RA.
Seconder of David Burns Brown
13 January 1908
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Seconder of James Nesfield Forsyth
2 March 1908
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Seconder of Robert Lindsey Clark
23 May 1910
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors [23 May 1910, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Supported by George Frederick Morris Harding
15 April 1912
Sent letter in support of Harding's application to join the Royal Society of British Sculptors [15 April 1912, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Taught Thomas John Clapperton
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 III, 1907 Biographical Dictionary of Medallists
Listed as a contemporary sculptor and medallist. Exhibited various medallic works at the Royal Academy in 1898, 1899, 1900, 1903 and 1904. A number of medals are illustrated in the Dictionary including 'Portrait-medal of Alfred William Hughes' (1900). Forrer cites Spielmann's 'British Sculpture and Sculptors of to-day' (1902). See Forrer, vol. 3, (1907), p. 76.
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 lists a number of John's seals and medals produced between 1899 and 1918. The artist exhibited some of these works at the Royal Academy, London, in 1907, 1912 and 1918. See vol. 7, (1923), p. 481.
Listed under Sculptors Post Office London Directory, 1900 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1900
p.2371
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
'Carver Wood & Stone' and also his father Thomas John, born c.1834, 'Wood & Stone Carver'
Sources
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Tenth Exhibition of Works of Modern Masters, 1900
October 1900
P. 51
Exhibited five sculptures
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Twelfth Exhibition of Works of Modern Masters, 1906
September 1906
p. 50
Annual Report from the Council of The Royal Academy to the General Assembly of Academicians for the Year 1911, 1912 Royal Academy Annual Reports
1912
pp. 26, 37-38
Annual Report from the Council of The Royal Academy to the General Assembly of Academicians for the Year 1924, 1925 Royal Academy Annual Reports
20 February 1925
pp. 9, 19, 26
Annual Report of The Glasgow School of Art 1898
January 1898
Examination Panel for 'Modelling Designs'
Art Workers Guild Annual Reports, 1885-1900
1895, p.20; 1899, p.5.
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: List of Members, 1894
1894
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: List of Members, 1897
1897
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. List of Members, 1898
1898
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. List of Members, 1899
1899
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. List of Members, 1900
1900
Arts and Crafts Society: Catalogue of the Sixth Exhibition.
1899
p.35, p.67.
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the thirtieth, 1900 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1900
Cat. No. 1454, p. 40
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-ninth, 1899 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1899
pp. 48-52.
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-seventh, 1897 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1897
pp. 44-47.
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-sixth, 1896 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1896
pp. 45-48.
Autumn exhibition of pictures & sculpture: the thirty-second, 1902 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1902
pp. 42-47.
Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the twentieth, 1890 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1890
pp. 46-48.
Cardiff Fine Art, Industrial and Maritime Exhibition
1896
Catalogue for the Seventy-Ninth Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy, 1924
1924
Catalogue for the Seventy-Third Annual Exhibition of the Royal West of England Academy, 1918
1918
Catalogue of Paintings, Drawings, Maps, Manuscripts, Rare Books, Fine Bindings, Etc.
1930
Catalogue of the Exhibition of International Art of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers 1898
1898
p.41, p43.
Catalogue of the Exhibition of Modern Oil Paintings and Sculpture, Autumn 1913
1913
Cat. No. 230, pp. 51, 58
Catalogue of the Special Loan Collection of Selected Modern Pictures, July 1923
July 1923
Cat. Nos. 143, 144, 145. Also mentioned as a teacher to Thomas J. Clapperton at the Royal Academy Schools
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1901
1901
Cat. No. 430, pp. 42, 60
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1909
1909
Cat. No. 496, 669, pp. 43, 58, 78
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
2005
RG09 piece 4038 folio 62 page 74
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
2004
RG10 piece 5365 folio 113 page 60
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
RG11 piece 5281 folio 161 page 62
Goscombe John at the National Museum of Wales
1979
International Exhibition Glasgow, 1901,
Official Catalogue of the Fine Art Section
1901
International Exhibition, Dublin 1907, Fine Art Catalogue
1907
British Sculpture, Gallery II
p. 24, no. 172:' The Glamour of the Rose'. Plaster Relief.
p. 29, no. 236:'Muriel'. Plaster Statuette.
p. 29, no. 239:'The Elf'. Life-size;Plaster.
All lent by the Sculptor.
List of Members: Royal Society of British Sculptors
2008
National Museum of Wales: Collections Online
http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/art/online/?action=show_works&item=70&type=artist (accessed 10 October 2010)
Ninety-Ninth Annual Report of the Council of The Royal Scottish Academy, 1926
1926
p. 15
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
2004
R. L. Charles, 'John, Sir William Goscombe (1860-1952)', rev. Fiona Pearson, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/34197, accessed 9 June 2008]
Post Office London Directory, 1900 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1900
p.2371
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, 1866-1906
1906
See entries for 1890.
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, 1906-1927
1927
pp.9-14, pp.42-46, p.50, pp.86-87, p.97, pp.106-108, p.149, p.161, p.164, p.177-178, p.201, p.224, p.233.
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, 1927-1938
1938
p.4, p.21, p.79, p.164, p.241.
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, c.1939-c.1961
1961 (Circa)
p.38.
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists. The Thirty-Sixth Spring Exhibition at the Rooms of the Society, New Street, 1901
1901
p. 62 (630).
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Fiftieth Annual Exhibition
1932
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Fifty-Fifth Annual Exhibition
1937
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Fifty-First Annual Exhibition
1933
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Fifty-Fourth Annual Exhibition
1936
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Fifty-Second Annual Exhibition
1934
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Fifty-Seventh Annual Exhibition
1939
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Fifty-Sixth Annual Exhibition
1938
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Fifty-Third Annual Exhibition
1935
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Forty-Eighth Annual Exhibition
1930
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Forty-First Annual Exhibition
1923
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Forty-Ninth Annual Exhibition
1931
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Forty-Seventh Annual Exhibition
1929
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Forty-Sixth Annual Exhibition
1928
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Fourty-Fourth Annual Exhibition
1926
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Sixty-Eighth Annual Exhibition
1950
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Sixty-Fifth Annual Exhibition
1947
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Sixty-First Annual Exhibition
1943
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Sixty-Fourth Annual Exhibition
1946
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Sixty-Ninth Annual Exhibition
1951
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Sixty-Seventh Annual Exhibition
1949
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Sixty-Sixth Annual Exhibition
1948
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Thirtieth Annual Exhibition
1912
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Thirty-Eighth Annual Exhibition
1920
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Thirty-First Annual Exhibition
1913
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Thirty-Third Annual Exhibition
1915
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Twenty-Eighth Annual Exhibition
1910
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Twenty-Fifth Annual Exhibition
1925
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Twenty-Seventh Annual Exhibition
1909
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art Twenty-Sixth Annual Exhibition
1908
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Annual Report of the Council, for the Year Ending 31 December 1951, to be Presented at the Forty-Eighth Annual General Meeting, 1952
February 1952
p. 3.
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Minutes of Council Meetings No. 1, 1905-1913
19 May 1913
10 January 1905; 13 January 1908; 2 March 1908; 2 November 1908; 7 December 1908; 4 January 1909; 23 May 1910; 21 November 1910; 15 April 1912; 17 June 1912; 20 January 1913.
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Minutes of Council Meetings No. 2, 1913-1922
1922 (Presumed)
20 April 1914
South Wales Art Society 10th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1897
South Wales Art Society 11th Annual Exhibition of pictures.
1898
South Wales Art Society 12th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1899
South Wales Art Society 13th Annual Exhibition Catalogue
1900
South Wales Art Society 14th Annual Exhibition Catalogue
1901
South Wales Art Society 16th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1903
South Wales Art Society 22nd Annual Exhibition Catalogue of Paintings and Sculpture.
1909
South Wales Art Society 25th Annual Exhibition of Modern Pictures.
1912
South Wales Art Society 26th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1913
South Wales Art Society 28th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1915
South Wales Art Society 29th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1916
South Wales Art Society 30th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1917
South Wales Art Society 34th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1921
South Wales Art Society 35th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1923
South Wales Art Society 38th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1926
South Wales Art Society 3rd Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1890
South Wales Art Society 40th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1928
South Wales Art Society 43rd Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1931
South Wales Art Society 49th Annual Exhibition Catalogue
1937
South Wales Art Society 50th Annual Exhibition Catalogue
1938
South Wales Art Society 51st Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1946
South Wales Art Society 52nd Annual Exhibition Catalogue
1947
South Wales Art Society 53th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1948
South Wales Art Society 55th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1950
South Wales Art Society 56th Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1951
South Wales Art Society and Sketching Club 1st Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1888
South Wales Art Society and Sketching Club 2nd Annual Exhibition Catalogue.
1889
Swansea Art Society Catalogue of the Thirteenth Annual Exhibition
1899
The Annual Exhibition, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, The National library of Wales
1936
The Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales. Catalogue of the Art Loan Exhibition 1926
1926
p.44
The Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales. Catalogue of the Competitive Art Exhibition 1926
1926
Citing this record
'Sir William Goscombe John RA', 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_1203385023, accessed 01 Oct 2023]
