Edward Godwin
Born 1 October 1876
Died 1957
Active: 1901 - 1921
Country of birth and death: England
Sculptor
Born in Westminster, London. He was the son of the architect Edward William Godwin (1833-1886) and his pupil and second wife, Beatrix Birnie Philip (1857–1896) who was also a designer of tiles, panels and wall-paper. Beatrice (later Beatrix) was the daughter of Frances Black and the sculptor John Birnie Philip. After his father, E.W. Godwin died in 1886, Beatrice married James McNeill Whistler (11 August 1888). Whistler had paid for her to retrain in Paris and taught her etching after their marriage. Beatrice also designed jewellery and stained glass.
Edward had connections to the theatre through the actress Ellen Terry (1847-1928). His father E.W. Godwin and Terry had lived together for six or seven years and during this time had two children - Edith Ailsa Geraldine Craig (1869–1947), theatre director and costumier and (Edward Henry) Gordon Craig (1872–1966), theatre director, stage designer and wood-engraver.
Prior to Whistler marrying his mother, the artist campaigned successfully for Beatrice to receive a pension in the Civil List. Edward attended a private boarding school called St Andrews in Caterham, presumably at his step-father's expense. Whistler asked Alfred Stevens, possibly the Belgian painter, Alfred Emile-Léopold Stevens (1823-1906) who was an old friend, to supervise Edward Godwin's education. In 1901, Edward was living with his grandmother, Frances Birnie Philip, next door to Whistler at 36 Tite Street. He exhibited a number of times at the Royal Academy between 1905-1921. Godwin's known works include the bronze angels on the Whistlers' tomb in Chiswick churchyard, and a portrait of Ronald Murray Philip (his uncle) that is in the family collection.
This record includes information from Margaret F. MacDonald's 'Beatrice Whistler Artist and Designer', Glasgow, 1997.
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.
Study of a Head
1901 (Presumed)
Contemplation
1909 (Presumed)
A Torso
1909 (Presumed)
Locations
Address St Stephens Palace Chambers Westminster London | View on map
1881 (Circa)
Address 36 Tite Street Chelsea London SW3 | View on map
1901 (Circa)
He was living with his grandmother, Frances Birnie Philip (born c.1826 in Westminster, London), his aunts and an uncle
Studio located at Hereford Square Studios Gloucester Road London SW | View on map
1901 (Circa)
Studio located at 10 Onslow Studios 183 King's Road London | View on map
1905 (Circa)
Studio located at 16 Onslow Studios 183 King's Road London | View on map
1908 (Circa) - 1921 (Circa)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at Third Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1901
'Study of a Head'
Exhibited at The Eighty-Third Autumn Exhibition at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1909-1910
Multiple works
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1905 - 1921
Exhibited 6 times, seven works in all (statuettes including detail from a memorial to his step-father, James McNeill Whistler in 1912, cat no 1896)
Personal and Professional Connections
Granddaughter/grandson/grandchild of John Birnie Philip
John Birnie Philip's daughter, Beatrix Birnie Philip (1857-96) was the mother of Edward Godwin. His father was the architect, E.W. Godwin (1833-86). Beatrix married the painter, James McNeill Whistler after E.W. Godwin's death.
Sources
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
Class: RG11; Piece: 117; Folio: 30; Page: 14; GSU roll: 1341026
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 582; Folio: 48; Page: 10; GSU roll: 6095692
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2001
RG13 piece 77 folio 190 page 44
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
2004
Susan Weber Soros, ‘Godwin, Edward William (1833–1886)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/10889, accessed 3 Aug 2012]
The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler, 1855-1903 including The Correspondence of Anna McNeill Whistler, 1855-1880
http://www.whistler.arts.gla.ac.uk/correspondence/people/biog/?bid=Godw_E&firstname=&surname=godwin (accessed 3 August 2012). There are also references to Edward in the entries for his mother, Beatrix Whistler (Beatrice Birnie Philip, married to (Edward) William Godwin).
Citing this record
'Edward Godwin', 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=msib4_1203793862, accessed 04 Jul 2022]