Mortimer John Brown
Born 27 April 1874
Died 1966
Active: 1897 - 1928
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, medallist
Born in Fenton, Staffordshire. He was the son of Lewis Benjamin Brown (born c.1849 in Longton, Staffordshire), a brewer's and potter's agent (in 1911 he represented Edwards and Brown, china manufacturers of Longton, Staffordshire). Mortimer began studying at Hanley School of Art c. 1889–90 and then attended the National Art Training School (Royal College of Art) c.1891-6. From about 1896 or 1897 he was a student at the Royal Academy Schools for five years where he won several prizes (including the Landseer Scholarship and British Institution Scholarship fund in 1898). After completing his studies by travelling in Italy and Greece, he worked as an assistant to William Hamo Thornycroft (c.1911). A bronze cast of 'The Shepherd Boy' was purchased by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest in 1912 and gifted to the Tate (accession no N02896).
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.
The shepherd boy
1911
The Shepherd Boy
1911
Locations
Address 69 Coniger Road Fulham London | View on map
1891 (Circa) - 1898 (Circa)
Address Clarendon House South Ealing London | View on map
1900 (Circa) - 1916 (Circa)
Address 27 Ealing Road South Ealing London | View on map
1911 (Circa)
Address 12 Spencer Road Twickenham London | View on map
1923 (Circa) - 1928 (Circa)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Eighty-Seventh, 1913
'The shepherd boy'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1898 - 1916
Exhibited 16 times, twenty-five works in all (statuettes, portraits, reliefs, medallions in marble, bronze and other media)
Won prize Landseer Scholarships (Royal Academy of Arts), 1884-1950
1898
Institutional and Business Connections
Associate member of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1923 - 1927
Invited to join Royal Society of British Sculptors
2 March 1905 - 3 April 1905
Amongst the suggested second wave of those invited to join 'without further nomination' [2 March 1905, Royal Society of British Sculptors, Minutes of Council Meetings, Vol.I]: but name removed from list following further discussion at next meeting [3 April 1905, Royal Society of British Sculptors, Minutes of Council Meetings, Vol.I].
Member of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1906 - 1927
Studied at Royal Academy Schools
1897 (Presumed) - 1899 (Presumed)
In 1897, Brown was awarded a second prize silver medal for a model of a statue of group. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1897', (1898), p. 32. Brown was awarded a Landseer Scholarship for sculpture in 1898. See 'Annual Report, 1898', (1899), p. 33. The following year, he won a second prize of £10, for a model of a design. See 'Annual Report, 1899', (1900), p. 36.
Unsuccessful in ballot for election to Royal Academy of Arts
Despite nominations in both 1912 and 1920.
Personal and Professional Connections
Assistant to William Hamo Thornycroft
1911 (Circa)
Nominated by William Hamo Thornycroft
4 December 1905
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Nominated by George James Frampton
1912
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominated by William Hamo Thornycroft
1912
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominated by Henry Alfred Pegram
1912
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominated by William Goscombe John
1912
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominated by (Edgar) Bertram Mackennal
1912
For RA; unsuccessful.
Nominated by Frederick William Pomeroy
1912 - 24 February 1920
Two nominations for RA, in 1912 and 1920, both 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
1 March 1920
For RA; unsuccessful.
Seconded by Frank Lynn Jenkins
4 December 1905
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Descriptions of Practice
Listed under Sculptors 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
Listed as a contemporary sculptor. Forrer notes that Brown began exhibiting sculpture at the Royal Academy, London, in 1898, and that he exhibited a bronze portrait medallion there in 1909. See Forrer, vol. 7, (1923).
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Art Student'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'(Sculptor) employed by Hamo Thornycroft RA, Melbury Road, Kensington, W.' worker and his father, Lewis Brown was working as an agent for breweries in Sheffield and Dublin as well as Edwards & Brown, china manufacturers in Longton, Staffordshire
Sources
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
RG11 piece 2730 folio 11 page 16
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
RG12 piece 53 folio 11 page 15
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2011
RG14PN6890 RD128 SD4 ED23 SN57
England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2007
2007
Name: Mortimer J Brown
Death Registration Month/Year: 1966
Age at death (estimated): 92
Registration district: Devon Central
Inferred County: Devonshire
Volume: 7a
Page: 361
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
2006
Name: Mortimer John Brown
Year of Registration: 1874
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
DISTRICT: Stoke Upon Trent
COUNTY: Staffordshire
Volume: 6b
Page: 279
List of Members: Royal Society of British Sculptors
2008
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, 1906-1927
1927
p.45.
Royal Academy of Arts Nominations for Associateship, 1927-1938
1938
p.20.
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Minutes of Council Meetings No. 1, 1905-1913
19 May 1913
2 March 1905; 3 April 1905; 4 December 1905.
Tate online: Art and Artists (previously General Collection)
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/mortimer-brown-822 (accessed 3 November 2012)
Citing this record
'Mortimer John Brown', 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_1215013444, accessed 29 May 2023]
