Thomas Stirling Lee
Born 16 March 1856
Died 28 June 1916
Active: 1871 - 1916
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor
Born Lambeth, London. He was the son of John Swanwick Lee, surveyor. Lee was a pupil at Westminster School c.1871 and was then apprenticed to John Birnie Philip (1824-75). Afterwards he attended the Royal Academy Schools (1876–80), the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris (1880–1), and studied in Rome (1881–3). Stirling Lee's commissions included some bas-reliefs for Leeds Town Hall, and carvings for Westminster Cathedral.
However, his most important commission was the series of reliefs for the exterior of St George's Hall, Liverpool. Lee was originally awarded the entire scheme of sculpture comprising twelve large reliefs and sixteen smaller panels (the latter on the upper parts of the building) through an open competition organised by Liverpool Council in 1882. However, due to a combination of high costs and the mixed reception that Lee's first two relief panels received, only six relating to 'The Progress of Justice' (situated to the left of the portico) were completed under the original plans (1885-94). In 1895 Liverpool Council decided to commission the remaining six reliefs for the facade to right of the portico. After some deliberation, Lee's 'moral right' to the scheme was asserted to the extent that he executed two of the remaining panels, established the principles for the design of the entire scheme and acted as supervisor for the remaining four reliefs. These others were created by Charles John Allen and Conrad Dressler. The theme of this second series was 'National Prosperity' and was completed between 1898-1901. (A full discussion of the scheme is given in 'Public Sculpture of Liverpool' Cavanagh, 1997).
Lee was a member of the Chelsea Arts Club and the National Portrait Society 1910–15. He died at St George's Hospital, Knightsbridge. According to an obituary he was: 'One of the best and kindest of men; always ready to help and advise; always thinking of others. His many friends have subscribed to a fund for placing a bronze panel on the family vault at New Southgate' [Brief obituary, 1916 AWG annual report, p.11].
Wealth at death: £959 13s. 8d.
Probate date: 4 August 1916
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.
Three Panels for Chimney-Piece: Fire, Love and Truth
Model for a Bronze Chimney Piece
Model for Bronze Chimney Piece
Model for Bronze Chimney Piece
Panels of Saints: 'St Ninian', 'St Anna', 'St Bridget', 'St Columba'
Lady Martin Conway
1899 (Presumed)
Three Sketch Panels for St George's Hall, Liverpool
1899 (Presumed)
The Kiss of Dawn
1901
Head
1901
Cain
1901
Dawn of Womanhood
1901
Head
1901
Bronze medallions
1901
Head Bronze
1901
Relief
1901
Relief
1901
Locations
Address 326 King's Road Chelsea London | View on map
1896 (Presumed) - 1906 (Presumed)
Address 35 Craven Street Strand London | View on map
1905 (Presumed)
Studio located at Merton Villa Studios Manresa Road London SW | View on map
1883 (Circa) - 1893 (Circa)
Studio located at Vale Studios The Vale London SW | View on map
1896 (Circa) - 1916 (Circa)
From 1909 Lee occupied studio A
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at Second Exhibition of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1899
Multiple works
Exhibited at Fifth Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1905
Multiple works
Exhibited at Sixth Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1906
Multiple works
Exhibited at Seventh Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1907
Multiple works
Exhibited at Exhibition of Fair Women (International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, London), 1908
'Mrs W. E. Horne'
Exhibited at Exhibition of Fair Women (International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, London), 1909
Multiple works
Exhibited at Eighth Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1908
Multiple works
Exhibited at Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: Eleventh Exhibition, 1916
'Panels of Saints: 'St Ninian', 'St Anna', 'St Bridget', 'St Columba''
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, Arts & Crafts Exhibition, 1900
Multiple works
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, Arts & Crafts Exhibition, 1904
'Balustrade'
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, The Spring Exhibition, 1909
Multiple works
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, Special Loan Exhibition, 1911
'Bust'
Exhibited at The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers Exhibition (Corporation of Manchester Art Gallery), 1905
Multiple works
Exhibited at City of Manchester Art Gallery, Exhibition of Modern Oil Paintings and Sculpture, 1913
'Cassandra'
Exhibited at Exhibits of the Northern Art Workers' Guild (Manchester), 1911
'Model for Bronze Chimney Piece'
Exhibited at Corporation of Manchester Art Gallery, Twenty-Fourth Autumn Exhibition, 1906
'Head'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1878 - 1916
Exhibited 20 times, one or two works per year 29 works in all
Exhibited at The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts Annual Exhibition, 1861-1951
1880 - 1915
Exhibited 10 times (an average of 2 works per show)
Exhibited at Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the fourteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1884
1884
A Study (cat. no. 2250, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the fifteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1885
1885
Alderman E. Samuelson (cat. no. 1433, marble, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the sixteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1886
1886
Mrs Samuelson (cat. no. 1259, terracotta, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the seventeenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1887
1887
Medallion (cat. no. 1253, marble, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-first (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1891
1891
The Kiss of Dawn (cat. no. 1269, plaster, relief, sketch p. 113, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-third (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1893
1893
The Children of Light (cat. no. 1201, model for repoussé copper panel for chimney piece, not for sale); Brotherly Love (cat. no. 1221, doors for the Adelphi Bank, Liverpool, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-fifth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1895
1895
Study (cat. no. 1300, marble head, £75).
Exhibited at International Exhibition, Glasgow, 1901
1901
Exhibited at International Exhibition, Dublin, 1907
1907
British Sculpture, Gallery II:
'Childhood of Justice' (panel for St George's Hall, Liverpool), p. 25 (183), lent by the sculptor; 'A Set of Bronze Medallions', p. 25 (188); 'Sketch for Panel in St George's Hall, Liverpool', p. 26 (194); 'Sketch for Panel in St George's Hall, Liverpool', p. 26 (195).
Exhibited at Franco-British Exhibition of Science, Art and Industries (London), 1908
1908
Exhibition committee member for Exhibition of Leeds, 1909
1909
Organised placing of sculpture in exhibition and performed the opening ceremony
Involved in Architecture, from the Painter's and Sculptor's points of view (Art Workers Guild), 1892
Involved in Franco-British Exhibition of Science, Art and Industries (London), 1908
2 March 1908
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).
Organized Social Evening (Royal Society of British Sculptors), 1912
Speaker at Mural Monuments and Effigies (Art Workers Guild), 1889
Speaker at The Use of Colour in Sculpture (Art Workers Guild), 1890
Speaker at The Purpose and Use of Sculpture in Modern Times (Art Workers Guild), 1891
Speaker at Processes of Modelling (Art Workers Guild), 1899
Also gave practical demonstration.
Speaker at Architecture as applied to Sculpture (Art Workers Guild), 1900
Speaker at English Mural Monuments (Art Workers Guild), 1900
Speaker at Low-relief in Sculpture (Art Workers Guild), 1902
Speaker at Greek Bronzes (Art Workers Guild), 1903
Speaker at Flaxman (Art Workers Guild), 1904
Speaker at Plaster Moulding and Casting (Art Workers Guild), 1905
Speaker at Marble Carving (Art Workers Guild), 1905
Also gave practical demonstration.
Speaker at Sculpture at Olympia (Art Workers Guild), 1910
Speaker at The Influence of Mathematics on Sculpture (Art Workers Guild), 1912
Speaker at Stone-carving (Art Workers Guild), 1915
Speaker at Portraiture and Sculpture (Art Workers Guild), 1916
Institutional and Business Connections
Associated with Royal Commissioners of the 1851 Exhibition
1911 (Presumed)
Part of Royal Society of British Sculptors sub-committee to advise on the Travelling Scholarship of Rome [18 Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Associated with Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
18 November 1912 (Presumed)
Stirling Lee reported to the Royal Society of British Sculptors the suggestion he had received from Birmingham, that one of their galleries should be devoted to the display of small pieces of sculpture [18 November 1912, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Candidate for membership of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers
At their fourth meeting, in 1898, the Council of the ISSPG decide to invite Lee to participate in their exhibition.
Chairwoman/chairman of Chelsea Arts Club
1891 - 1894
He was chairman a second time between 1912-13.
Honorary secretary of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers
1905 (Presumed)
Master of Art Workers Guild
1898
Member of Art Workers Guild
1889 - 1916
Committee member from 1890-1892, master in 1898, awarded unspecified honorary status in 1912.
Member of Chelsea Arts Club
1891
Founder member of the Chelsea Arts Club
Member of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers
1899 - 1909
Executive Member from 1899 to 1909; honorary secretary in 1905.
Member of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1904 - 1916
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].
Died in 1916.
Member of Northern Art Workers' Guild
1911 (Circa)
Member of council The British School at Rome
1911
Represented the Royal Society of British Sculptors on the Council following the death of Lawes-Wittewronge and assisted in formulating the Rome scholarship scheme [20 November 1911, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1]
Studied at Royal Academy Schools
1877 (Presumed) - 1879 (Presumed)
Lee was awarded a gold medal for a composition in sculpture in 1877, and a travelling studentship for sculpture in 1879. See Royal Academy 'Annual Reports'.
Unsuccessful in ballot for election to Royal Academy of Arts
Having failed to gain election in 1892 he withdrew his name from the nominations book in June 1915 [note in RA nominations book next to 1892 entry]
Vice-president of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers
Personal and Professional Connections
Apprenticed to John Birnie Philip
Assistant was John Wenlock Rollins
1892
with the panels for St. George's Hall, Liverpool
Collaborated with Conrad Gustave d'Huc Dressler
1898 - 1901
On the 'National Prosperity' reliefs for St George's Hall, Liverpool. Lee was supervisor for the project and set the overall theme. Dressler created two of the six panels.
Collaborated with Charles John Allen
1898 - 1901
On the 'National Prosperity' reliefs for St George's Hall, Liverpool. Lee was supervisor for the project and set the overall theme. Allen created two of the six panels.
Nominated by William Hamo Thornycroft
2 December 1892
For RA.
Nominated by George James Frampton
20 November 1911
To represent the Royal Society of British Sculptors on the Council for formulating the Travelling Studentship of Rome, following the death of Lawesp-Wittewronge [20 November 1911, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Nominator of Harry (Henry) Wilson
5 February 1906
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Nominator of Frederick Thomas Callcott
15 May 1911
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors [15 May 1911, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Received favourable review from John Brett
Praised his contribution to 'Colour in Sculpture' [AWG 1890 annual report, p.13].
Seconded by Thomas Brock
2 December 1892
For RA.
Seconded by Ernest George Gillick
20 November 1911
To represent the Royal Society of British Sculptors on the Council for formulating the Travelling Studentship of Rome, following the death of Lawes-Wittewronge [20 November 1911, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Seconded by Arthur George Walker
20 November 1911
To represent the Royal Society of British Sculptors on the Council for formulating the Travelling Studentship of Rome, following the death of Lawesp-Wittewronge [20 November 1911, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Seconder of Abraham Broadbent
15 January 1906
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Seconder of Benjamin Sheppard
15 January 1906
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Seconder of John Wenlock Rollins
5 February 1906
For membership of Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Seconder of Charles Rutland
5 February 1906 - 5 February 1905
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Seconder of Thomas Tyrrell
5 February 1906
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Seconder of William Bateman Fagan
18 February 1907 - 11 March 1907
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors. Consideration of application for canditure postponed until next meeting, when Pomeroy and Lee would be present.
Seconder of Leonard Jennings
7 February 1907
For membership of Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Seconder of Fane Frank Fleming Baxter
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].
Seconder of Edward George Bramwell
20 March 1911
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors [20 March 1911, Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no.1].
Supporter of Harry (Henry) Wilson
3 April 1905
Unsuccessfully, Lee opposed the removal of Wilson's name from a list of sculptors to be invited to join the RBS without the formality of proposal [3 April 1905, Royal Society of British Sculptors, Minutes of Council Meetings, Vol.I].
Descriptions of Practice
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, 1891
'Sculptor'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Sculptor' and an employer
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Sculptor' working on own account
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
'Scholar' (at Westminster School, Little Dean's Yard, Westminster)
Sources
A Catalogue of the Pictures, Drawings, Prints and Sculptures in the Exhibition of Fair Women arranged by the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers
1908
p.11, pp.15-16.
Art Workers Guild Annual Reports, 1885-1900
1889, p.5; 1890, p.5; 1891, p.6; 1892, p.4; 1896, p.24; 1898, p.20; 1899, p.6, p.20; 1900, pp.5-6, p.29.
Art Workers Guild Annual Reports, 1901-1912
1902, p.7; 1903, p.6; 1904; p.5; 1905, pp.4-5; 1910, p.7; 1912, p.5. All lists of members' addresses 1900-1912.
Art Workers Guild Annual Reports, 1913-1933
1915, p.16, p.49; 1916, p.7, p.11; 1922, pp.9-10.
Artists and Bohemians: 100 Years with the Chelsea Arts Club
1992
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: Papers relating to the founding of the Society
1888 (Circa)
'National Exhibition of the Arts'. Listed as one of 20 sculptors invited to be part of selection and hanging committee.
Arts and Crafts Society: Catalogue of the Eleventh Exhibition.
1916
p.268.
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-third, 1893 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1893
pp. 42-45.
Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the fifteenth, 1885 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1885
pp. 85-87.
Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the seventeenth, 1887 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1887
pp. 74-76.
Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the sixteenth, 1886 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1886
pp. 79-80.
Catalogue of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition 1900
1900
Cat. Nos. 38, 39, pp. 19, 77
Catalogue of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition 1904
1904
Cat. Nos. 1181, 1270, 1600, pp. 71, 77, 99, 131
Catalogue of the Exhibition of Modern Oil Paintings and Sculpture, Autumn 1913
1913
Cat. Nos. 222, 227, pp. 49, 50, 59
Catalogue of the Exhibits of the Northern Art Workers Guild (Manchester Art Gallery), 1911
1911
Cat. Nos. 38, 63, pp. 68, 71, 82
Catalogue of the Fine Art Section,
Franco-British Exhibition,
London, 1908
1908
Catalogue of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters & Gravers' Exhibition, Corporation of Manchester Art Gallery, 1905
1905
Cat. Nos. 335, 338, pp. 3, 48, 58
Catalogue of the Special Loan Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1911
1911
Cat. No. 271, p. 30
Catalogue of the Spring Exhibition, The City Art Gallery, Leeds 1909
1909
Cat. Nos. 258, 499, 528, 649, 651, 666, pp. 26, 43, 47, 56, 57, 79
Catalogue of the Twenty-Fourth Autumn Exhibition, 1906
1906
Cat. No. 268, pp. 48, 56
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
2004
RG10 piece 126 folio 11 page 13
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 45; Folio 158; Page 14; GSU roll: 6095155
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2005
RG13 piece 481 folio 176 page 30
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2011
RG14PN2445 RG78PN81 RD26 SD8 ED14 SN171
England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2007
2007
Name: Thomas S Lee
Birth Date: abt 1856
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1916
Age at Death: 60
Registration district: St George Hanover Square
Inferred County: London
Volume: 1a
Page: 544
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
2006
Name: Thomas Stirling Lee
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1856
Registration district: Lambeth
Inferred County: Greater London, London, Surrey
Volume: 1d
Page: 279
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: Thomas Lee
Probate Date: 4 Aug 1916
Death Date: 28 Jun 1916
Death Place: Surrey, England
Registry: London
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. 25, no. 183:'Childhood of Justice'. Panel for St. George's Hall, Liverpool.
Lent by the Sculptor.
p. 25, no. 188:'A Set of Bronze Medallions'.
p. 26, 3 items:
no. 194:'Sketch for Panel in St. George's Hall, Liverpool'.
no. 195:'Sketch for Panel in St. George's Hall, Liverpool'.
no. 196:'Sketch for Panel in St. George's Hall, Liverpool'.
All lent by the Sculptor.
List of Members: Royal Society of British Sculptors
2008
LEE/1904-16/6.
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1884 Walker Art Gallery
1884
pp. 129-132.
London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
2010
Name: Thomas Sterling Lee
Record Type: Baptism
Estimated Birth Date: abt 1856
Baptism Date: 15 Jun 1856
Father's Name: John Swannick Lee
Mother's Name: Jennet Lee
Parish or Poor Law Union: Tottenham
Borough: Haringey
Register Type: Parish Registers
London Metropolitan Archives, All Hallows, Tottenham, Register of baptisms, DRO/015/A/01, Item 005
Minutes of Council Meetings of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers
Post Office London Directory, 1900 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1900
p.2371
Public Sculpture of Liverpool Public Sculpture of Britain
1997
pp. 255-65 and 332
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, 1866-1906
1906
See entries for 1892.
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Minutes of Council Meetings No. 1, 1905-1913
19 May 1913
15 January 1906; 5 February 1906; 7 February 1907; 18 February 1907; 11 March 1907; 2 March 1908; 2 November 1908; 4 January 1909; 1 March 1909; 20 March 1911; 15 May 1911; 18 September 1911; 20 November 1911; 18 November 1912.
Citing this record
'Thomas Stirling Lee', 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_1203635537, accessed 30 May 2023]
