Robert Lindsey Clark
Born 1864
Died 2 June 1926
Active: 1893 - 1926
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor, architectural sculptor, painter, figure carver
Born in Worcester, Worcestershire. Robert was the son of J.D. Clark, an ironmonger from Worcester. He joined the firm of H.H. Martyn as an apprentice sculptor probably in the early 1880s. Clark attended South London Technical School of Art (Lambeth School of Art) c.1886-9, and was described as a figure carver at the commencement of his studies. He may then have worked for Richard Lockwood Boulton (records of South London Technical School of Art). Clark returned to H.H. Martyn before 1901 where was made head sculptor c.1905, a post he retained until his death. On behalf of Martyn's, Clark spent a considerable amount of time at the marble quarries in Carrara, Italy while working on the memorial to Queen Victoria for Calcutta.
Robert was the father of Philip Lindsey Clark (1889-1977) who began his training in his father's workshop (c.1905-10). Although the majority of Robert's works were created for H.H. Martyn, he also had an independent practice and exhibited in Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool and London. In 1924 he showed 'The Broken Limber' at the Royal Academy, which was soon recognized as his most important work. In addition to sculpture, Clark was an accomplished water colour painter and keen sportsman. He died, presumably while on holiday, at the Lodges and Tea Rooms, Lockside Skene, Aberdeenshire.
Wealth at death: £299 9s. 4d.
Probate date: 8 July 1926
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.
Triumph
1893 (Presumed)
Dr Carwardine
1913 (Presumed)
Locations
Address 83 Overstone Road Northampton | View on map
1891 (Circa)
Sharing these lodgings with Charles Rutland
Address 8 Keynsham Terrace Cheltenham | View on map
1893 (Circa) - 1895 (Circa)
Address 7 Christchurch Terrace Cheltenham | View on map
1901 (Circa)
Address Beechwood Gloucester Road Cheltenham | View on map
1913 (Circa) - 1926
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at The Sixty-Seventh Autumn Exhibition at the Rooms of the Royal Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1893
'Triumph'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1895 - 1924
Exhibited 4 times, one work each year.
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures in oil and water-colours: the thirty-first (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1901
1901
Cupid (cat. no. 1558, statuette, not for sale).
Exhibited at Exhibition of the Bristol Academy, Annual Spring Exhibition for the Promotion of the Fine Arts, The Sixty-Eighth, 1913
1913
Institutional and Business Connections
Associate member of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1923 - 1926
Died in 1926.
Employed at H. H. Martyn & Co.
1893 (Circa) - 1924 (Presumed)
Head sculptor and art director
Member of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1910 - 1926
Died in 1926.
Personal and Professional Connections
Collaborated with Charles Rutland
1921 (Circa)
In 1891 they were lodging at the same address and presumably colleagues on a commission. In 1921 Rutland assisted Robert's son, Philip with the carving for the Southwark War Memorial
Employee of Richard Lockwood Boulton
1890 (Circa)
Connection based on the records of South London Technical School of Art
Grandmother/grandfather/grandparent to Michael Clark
Mother/father/parent of Philip Lindsey Clark
Nominated by Francis Derwent Wood
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].
Seconded by William Goscombe John
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].
Taught Philip Lindsey Clark
1905 (Circa) - 1910 (Circa)
According to Philip's obituary in 'The Times'
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Architectural Sculptor' and a worker
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Sculptor' listed as a boarder at an address in Northampton
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Sculptor' employed in a 'Carving Works' as a worker
Sources
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 1198; Folio 135; Page 7; GSU roll: 6096308
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2001
Class: RG13; Piece: 2466; Folio: 59; Page: 9
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2009
RG14PN15569 RG78PN947 RD333 SD2 ED34 SN212
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
2006
Name: Robert Lindsey Clark
Year of Registration: 1864
Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun
District: Worcester
County: Hereford and Worcester, Worcestershire
Volume: 6c
Page: 297
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: Robert Lindsey Clark
Probate Date: 8 Jul 1926
Death Date: 2 Jun 1926
Death Place: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Registry: Gloucester
Handwritten note from Michael Clark, inserted in 'Royal Society of British Sculptors: Minutes of Council Meetings, no. 1'
25 October 1971
List of Members: Royal Society of British Sculptors
2008
Report of the South London Technical School of Art (City and Guilds of London Institute), 1888
June 1888
p. 9
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Minutes of Council Meetings No. 1, 1905-1913
19 May 1913
23 May 1910.
The Best: a history of H. H. Martyn and Co. Specialists in Architectural Decoration and the Gloster Aircraft Co.
1985
pp. 38, 134, 135 and further references
Citing this record
'Robert Lindsey Clark', 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_1220266331, accessed 21 Mar 2023]
