Harry (Henry) Wilson
Born 12 March 1864
Died 7 March 1934
Active: 1888 - 1927
Country of birth: England
Country of death: France
Architect, metal worker, jeweller, modeller, sculptor, teacher, author
Born in West Derby, Liverpool. He studied at Kidderminster School of Art, Westminster School of Art, and the Royal College of Art before training in the offices of the architects, Edward Shrewsbury (to whom an arcticled pupil), John Oldrid Scott and John Belcher.
From 1888 Wilson was chief assistant to John Dando Sedding and after the latter died in 1891, he completed three important London churches. Wilson shared Sedding's belief that it was the architect's sacred duty to unite the crafts. He embodied this principle through the immense versatility of his practice. This included some highly innovative jewellery, a fine collection of which is in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
In the mid-1890s he moved away from built structures towards creating architectural metalwork and sculpture, and spent two years in a foundry learning professional techniques. His monumental and sculptural works include: the monument to Bishop Elphinstone at King's College, Aberdeen (c.1910–31); and Coventry Council House (1912–1920) where he decorated the council chamber with carvings based on animal and plant life, Lady Godiva, and other historical figures with associated heraldry. His reputation as an outstanding modeller, was affirmed in later life by the great bronze doors for the cathedral of St John the Divine, New York (c.1930).
Wilson was also a committed teacher and was associated with W. R. Lethaby at the Central School of Arts and Crafts and at the Royal College of Art. From 1896 to 1901 he was the first editor of the 'Architectural Review'.
He retired to Paris on the early 1920s and died in some poverty in Menton, France.
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.
1 Case of Jewels, Pendants, Necklaces, &c.
1 Case of Jewels, small Altar Cross, &c.
Casket in Gold, Silver, Enamels and Precious Stones
Statuette from the Casket of the Holy Spirit
Statuette from the Casket of the Holy Spirit
Designed Copper panel
Modelled Screen for Chapel for St Osmund's Church, Parkstone
Doors modelled for St. Mary's Church, Nottingham
Designed A Pantheon of the Five Dominions
Designed sculpture and decoration.
Designed Five Panels for Choir Stalls
Designed Panel for Choir Stall
Joan of Arc
1912
Casket
1904 (Presumed)
Fiammetta
1908
St Hilda
1908
Hermes
1908
Bronze Group
1910
The Crucifix
1910
Sleeping Angel
1912 (Circa)
Crucifix Figure
1912
Locations
Address 447 Oxford Street London | View on map
1893 - 1906
Address 17 Vicarage Gate Kensington London W | View on map
1898 (Presumed) - 1901 (Presumed)
Address The Thatched House St Mary's Platt Borough Green | View on map
1904 (Circa) - 1922 (Presumed)
Address 9 Rue d'Orléans St Cloud Seine-et-Oise | View on map
1923 (Circa)
Address 1 Rue Feudon Quai Président Carnot Seine-et-Oise | View on map
1927 (Circa)
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 Third Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1901
Multiple works
Exhibited at Fourth Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1904
Multiple works
Exhibited at Sixth Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1906
'Pietà'
Exhibited at Exhibition of Fair Women (International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, London), 1908
Multiple works
Exhibited at Exhibition of Fair Women (International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, London), 1909
'St Christopher'
Exhibited at Exhibition of Fair Women (International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, London), 1910
'Case of jewels'
Exhibited at Eighth Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1908
Multiple works
Exhibited at Ninth Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1909
Multiple works
Exhibited at Tenth Annual Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers (London), 1910
'Sketch for a Monument'
Exhibited at Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: Eleventh Exhibition, 1916
'Scale Model of Semi-Dome'
Exhibited at The Thirty-Ninth Spring Exhibition at the Rooms of the Society, New Street (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), 1904
'Casket '
Exhibited at Leeds City Art Gallery, Arts & Crafts Exhibition, 1900
'Pulpit'
Exhibited at Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1908
'Hermes'
Exhibited at Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1910
Multiple works
Exhibited at Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1912
'Joan of Arc'
Exhibited at The Exhibition of the Royal Academy of Arts (Summer Exhibition), 1768-
1888 - 1927
Exhibited 14 times, nine times as an architect or designer and five times sculpture or sculpturally related works, 30 works in all
Speaker at Coins and medals (Art Workers Guild), 1897
Speaker at The Etruscan Nature, its Art and Influence (Art Workers Guild), 1900
Speaker at Goldsmith's Work (Art Workers Guild), 1902
Speaker at The Apprenticeship Problem (Art Workers Guild), 1910
Took part in The Architecture of Monuments (Art Workers Guild), 1905
Institutional and Business Connections
Master of Art Workers Guild
1917
Member of The Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society
1888 (Presumed) - 1922 (Presumed)
Member of Art Workers Guild
1892 - 1934
Committee member 1898-1900, Master in 1917.
Member of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers
1899 (Presumed) - 1925 (Presumed)
Executive member.
Member of Royal Society of British Sculptors
1906 - 1920
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]. Statutory notice of expulsion given in 1920. [List of members, Royal Society of British Sculptors]
President of The Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society
1915 - 1922
Teacher of metal work at Royal College of Art (including National Art Training School)
1905
Listed as an instructor of metal work and enamelling. See 'List of Staff' in the 'Report of the Departmental Committee on the Royal College of Art' (1911), p. 60. No end date is given, however, it is likely that Wilson was still working at the school when the list was published in 1911.
Worked for Longden & Co.
Worked with Central School of Arts and Crafts
The school modelled his Entrance doors to the 1916 ACES 'Hall of Heroes'.
Personal and Professional Connections
Collaborated with J.H.M. Bonnor
Collaborated with Richard Louis Garbe
Collaborated with Rachel Marshall
Collaborated with Frederick William Pomeroy
Collaborated with Robert Schultz Weir
Collaborated with Laurence Arthur Turner
Nominated by Thomas Stirling Lee
5 February 1906
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Seconded by Frederick William Pomeroy
5 February 1906
For membership of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.
Supported by Thomas Stirling Lee
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
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Architect' employed
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
'Architect's Articled Pupil'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Artist' working on own account at home
Sources
A Catalogue of the Pictures, Drawings, Prints and Sculptures at the Second Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers 1899
1899
p.17, p.28, p.36, p.59.
A Catalogue of the Pictures, Drawings, Prints and Sculptures at the Tenth Annual Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers
1910
p.28, pp.37-38.
A Catalogue of the Pictures, Drawings, Prints and Sculptures at the Third Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers 1901
1901
p.21, p.26, p.27.
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, p.30, p.32.
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 1909
1909
p.29, p.39, p.42, p.44.
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Fifteenth Exhibition of Works of Modern Masters, 1912
November 1912
p. 49
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Fourteenth Exhibition of Works of Modern Masters, 1910
November 1910
p. 48 (538)
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Thirteenth Exhibition of Works of Modern Masters, 1908
September 1908
p. 54
Art Workers Guild Annual Reports, 1885-1900
1896, p.6; 1897, p.6; 1900, p.4.
Art Workers Guild Annual Reports, 1901-1912
1902, p.7; 1905, p.5; 1910, p.6.
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: List of Members, 1907
1907
Arts and Crafts Society: Catalogue of the Eleventh Exhibition.
1916
p.93, p.268, pp.114-116, p.180, p.241, p.243, p.264, p.268.
Arts and Crafts Society: Catalogue of the Sixth Exhibition.
1899
p.31, pp.47-48, p.68, p.82, pp.91-92, p.152.
Catalogue of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition 1900
1900
Cat. No. 35, pp. 19, 82
Catalogue of the Exhibition of International Art of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers 1898
1898
p.11, p.41, p.54, p.63.
Catalogue of the Second Exhibition of Arts and Crafts, City of Manchester Art Gallery, 1895
1895
Cat. Nos. 205, 213, p. 83
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881
2004
Class: RG11; Piece: 1314; Folio: 17; Page: 27; GSU roll: 1341319
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 1039; Folio 93; Page 20; GSU roll: 6096149
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2011
RG14PN3984 RG78PN152 RD48 SD2 ED3 SN191
List of Members: Royal Society of British Sculptors
2008
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
2004
Fiona MacCarthy, ‘Wilson, Henry (1864–1934)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Oct 2007 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/38556, accessed 13 Aug 2010]
Royal Society of British Sculptors. Minutes of Council Meetings No. 1, 1905-1913
19 May 1913
2 March 1905; 3 April 1905; 5 February 1906.
Citing this record
'Harry (Henry) Wilson', 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_1245166168, accessed 29 May 2023]
