Harry Bates ARA
Other names: Henry
Born 26 April 1850
Died 30 January 1899
Active: 1871 - 1899
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, architect's clerk, architectural sculptor, carver
Born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. After training as an architect's clerk, he served as an apprentice (c.1866) and then as an employee (1869–79) of Farmer and Brindley.
In 1880 he studied briefly at the South London Technical Art School, Lambeth under Jules Dalou and then at the Royal Academy Schools (from 1881). Between 1883-5 he lived in Paris and studied with Rodin.
Bates was a versatile artist producing a wide range of work including: door knockers; church furnishings; portrait busts; architectural decorations; public monuments; and sculptures. His brief but successful career ended when he was forty-eight. He died at his home, 10 Hall Road, St John's Wood, London.
Wealth at death: £387 1s. 6d.
Probate date: 17 April 1899
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.
War
1887 (Circa)
The dates of creation are given as 1874-80 by Manchester Art Gallery
Peace
1887 (Circa)
The dates of creation are given as 1874-80 by Manchester Art Gallery
Sketch for war
1887
The dates of creation are given as 1874-80 by Manchester Art Gallery
Mariquita
1891 (Circa)
Aeneas and Dido
1892
Set of Psyche Panels
1901
Locations
Address 14 Bedford Street Bishop Wearmouth Sunderland | View on map
1871
Lodging at this address in 1871 [see Census Returns 1871], presume staying here whilst working on a project for Farmer & Brindley
Address 25 Reedworth Street Lambeth London | View on map
1881 (Circa)
Lodging here
Address 57 Bedford Gardens London | View on map
1888 (Circa) - 1893 (Circa)
Address 10 Hall Road St John's Wood London | View on map
1891 (Circa)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at First Exhibition of the Society of Scottish Artists, 1892
Multiple works
Exhibited at Thirtieth Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, 1890-1891
'Mariquita'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1884 - 1899
Exhibited 14 times, average 2-3 works per year.
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-first (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1891
1891
The Story of Psyche (cat. no. 1270, marble panel, sketch p. 113, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-eighth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1898
1898
Lord Lansdowne (cat. no. 1397, marble bust, not for sale); A Study in Marble (cat. no. 1467, not for sale).
Exhibited at International Exhibition, Glasgow, 1901
1901
Exhibited at International Exhibition, Dublin, 1907
1907
British Sculpture, Gallery II: 'Eneas' (panel in bronze), p. 23 (153), lent by Mrs Harry Bates; 'Ektor' (panel in bronze), p. 24 (165), lent by Mrs Harry Bates; 'Psyche' (panel in bronze), p. 24 (168), lent by Mrs Harry Bates; 'Rhodopie' (marble), p. 26 (200), lent by Mrs Harry Bates.
All pieces posthumously exhibited; Bates died in 1899.
Institutional and Business Connections
Apprenticed to Farmer and Brindley
1866 (Circa) - 1869 (Circa)
Elected ARA Royal Academy of Arts
27 January 1892 - 30 January 1899
Died in 1899.
Member of Art Workers Guild
1886 - 1890
Joined and resigned in 1886; joined and resigned in 1890.
Member of The Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society
1888 - 1889 (Presumed)
Listed as one of 20 sculptors invited to be part of selection and hanging committee for the first exhibition in 1888 (offer accepted). Committee member from at least 1888-1889.
Studied at South London Technical School of Art (also Lambeth School of Art and City and Guilds of London Art School)
1880 - 1881
Enrolled for one class in modelling between these dates
Studied at Royal Academy Schools
6 December 1881 - 1883 (Presumed)
Bates won a second prize silver medal for a model of a statue or group in 1882. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1882', (1883), p. 33. Awarded a second silver medal for a model of a statue or group. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1882', (1883), p. 33. Bates also won the gold medal and travelling studentship of £200 for a composition in sculpture of "Socrates Teaching the People in the Agora", and second silver medal for a model of a figure from the life in 1883. See 'Annual Report, 1883', (1884), p. 34.
Visitor at Royal Academy Schools
1895 - 1899
Listed as a Visitor to the School of Modelling from the Life until his death. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Reports'.
Visitor at Central School of Arts and Crafts
1896 - 1898
Listed as a visitor to the school in 1896-1897 and 1897-1898.
Worked for Farmer and Brindley
1869 - 1879
Personal and Professional Connections
Assistant was Alfred Turner
Aunt/uncle of George Frederick Morris Harding
Nominated by Henry Hugh Armstead
27 March 1888
For RA.
Nominator of (Edgar) Bertram Mackennal
12 December 1895
For RA.
Pupils included Henry Poole
Seconded by Walter William Ouless
27 March 1888
For RA.
Wife/husband/spouse to Nancie Bates
1887 (Circa)
Descriptions of Practice
Listed under Sculptors Post Office London Directory, 1890 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1890
p.1997
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
'Sculptor', gave birthplace as Germany
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
'Sculptor'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Sculptor' employer
Occupation given in South London Technical School of Art (City and Guilds of London Institute): Student Enrolments, 1880-2
1880 - 1881
'Carver'
Sources
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: Its History and Achivements
1938 (Probable)
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 Second Exhibition.
1889
Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the twenty-eighth, 1898 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1898
pp. 45-48.
Catalogue of the Memorial Exhibition of Sculpture by the Late Henry Poole RA
1930
p.7.
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
2005
Class: HO107; Piece: 1709; Folio: 245; Page: 2; GSU roll: 193617
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
2004
RG10 piece 4996 folio 50 page 34
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
Class: RG11; Piece: 594; Folio: 12; Page: 17; GSU roll: 13411
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 105; Folio 108; Page 43; GSU roll: 6095215
England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915
2006
Name: Harry Bates
Estimated birth year: abt 1851
Year of Registration: 1899
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at Death: 48
District: Marylebone (1837-1901)
County: London, Middlesex
Volume: 1a
Page: 492
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. 23, no. 153:'Eneas. Panel in Bronze'.
Lent by Mrs. Harry Bates.
p. 24, no. 165:'Ektor'. Panel in Bronze.
Lent by Mrs. Harry Bates.
p. 24, no. 168:'Psyche'. Panel in Bronze.
Lent by Mrs. Harry Bates.
p. 26, no. 200:'Rhodopie'. Marble.
Lent by Mrs. Harry Bates.
Manchester Art Gallery Collections
2009 (Circa)
http://www.manchestergalleries.org/the-collections/search-the-collection/display.php?EMUSESSID=28a27b5def2ee3e2767afd48dfd65124&irn=3891 AND http://www.manchestergalleries.org/the-collections/search-the-collection/display.php?EMUSESSID=28a27b5def2ee3e2767afd48dfd65124&irn=3891 (accessed 5 April 2011)
Post Office London Directory, 1890 Post Office/Kelly London Directories
1890
p.1997
Prospectus and Time Table, The Central School of Arts and Crafts, 20 December 1896
20 December 1896
p. 2.
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, 1866-1906
1906
See entries for 1888, 1895.
Royal Academy of Arts. Directory of Membership from the Foundation in 1768 to 1995 including Honorary Members, 1996
1996
pp. 7-8.
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Minutes of Council Meetings No. 1, 1905-1913
19 May 1913
13 January 1908.
Society of Scottish Artists, Exhibition Catalogues 1892-1951
p. 46
Tate online: Art and Artists (previously General Collection)
http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cgroupid=999999961&workid=763&searchid=15314 (accessed 5 April 2011)
The New Sculpture
1983
Multiple references
The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, 1861-1989. Volume 1, A-D. A Dictionary of Exhibitors at the Annual Exhibitions of the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, 1990 The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, 1861-1989
1990
p. 99
Exhibited 3 works between 1891 and 1893
Citing this record
'Harry Bates ARA', 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_1206485880, accessed 03 Jun 2023]
