Peter Russell McCrossan
Born 1865 (Circa)
Died 31 December 1926
Active: 1888 - 1923
Country of birth: Scotland
Country of death: England
Sculptor, teacher, modeller, wood carver
Born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire. His father and brother were named Dennis (born in Glasgow c.1841 and c.1870 respectively) and were both wood carvers by trade. Peter studied at Glasgow School of Art in the late 1880s and then moved to London in 1890 when he won a National Scholarship to study at the National Art Training Schools (Royal College of Art). On arrival at NATS his previous occupation was described as 'modeller and wood carver', on leaving the college in 1891 he was assisting a decorator called Mr. Moralda.
McCrossan entered into a partnership with the sculptor, Aristide Luigi Fabbrucci c.1901. Sometime around 1900, Peter began teaching at St Martin's School of Art and he stayed working there until at least 1923. It is not known whether he continued in business during this time. However, the value of his estate suggests he may have had a more profitable source of income than teaching. He died at Middlesex Hospital.
This entry includes information supplied by Ann Roberts.
Wealth at death: £3,649 13s. 3d.
Probate date: 8 March 1927
Locations
Address Humbolt Road Fulham London | View on map
1891 (Circa)
Address 21 Whittingstall Road Fulham London | View on map
1901 (Circa)
Address 77 Ellerby Street Fulham London | View on map
1911 (Circa)
Institutional and Business Connections
Partner in Fabbrucci and McCrossan
1900 (Circa)
The duration of the partnership is not known
Received prize from The Glasgow School of Art
1888
For Modelling the Figure from Casts
Teacher of modeling at St Martin's School of Art
1902 (Circa) - 1923 (Circa)
Listed as instructor of modelling and casting in the School's first avaliable full prospectus from 1912-1913. McCrossan is also listed on the staff in the single page extract from the 1902-1903 prospectus. This does not specify the type of course he taught, but it was presumably a modelling class. Last listed in the 1922-1923, however, there are no available prospectuses from 1924 to 1937. So it is not known whether he continued teaching until his death in 1926.
Personal and Professional Connections
Assistant to Emilio Ciro Marolda
1891 (Circa)
McCrossan worked for Marolda after leaving the National Arts Training School (Royal College of Art).
Assistant to Alfred Gilbert
1893 (Circa) - 1902 (Circa)
Listed as having been an assistant to Gilbert for nine years in the St. Martin's School of Art prospectus from 1912-1913. McCrossan was teaching at the school in 1902, however, there are no avaliable prospectuses from before this date in the Central Saint Martins archive collection; the dates given here are, therefore, only approximate.
Partner of Aristide Luigi Fabbrucci
1900 (Circa)
The duration of the partnership is not known
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
'Sculptor'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
'Wood carver'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
'Art Teacher' worker for LCC Board of Education
Sources
Annual Report of The Glasgow School of Art and Haldane Academy. 1888
January 1888
p. 16
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891
2004
Class: RG12; Piece: 47; Folio 112; Page 53; GSU roll: 6095157
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901
2005
Class: RG13; Piece: 66; Folio: 32; Page: 9
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
2011
RG14PN267 RG78PN9 RD3 SD3 ED1 SN200
St Martin's School of Art Prospectus, Session 1922-1923 St Martin's School of Art Prospectuses
1922
p. 3.
St Martin's School of Art, 1912-1913 St Martin's School of Art Prospectuses
1912
Unpaged.
St Martin's School of Art, Session 1902-1903 St Martin's School of Art Prospectuses
1902
Single loose page.
Citing this record
'Peter Russell McCrossan', 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=msib6_1223460781, accessed 30 Sep 2023]
