AT THE KING’S COMMAND

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 98, 19 January 1935, Page 18

AT THE KING’S COMMAND

Sculptor’s Exile Ended

Sir Alfred Gilbert, the famous sculptor, admired by art connoisseurs throughout' the world, yet probably more widely known to the general public as the creator of Eros, the statue in Piccadilly Circus, London, died in a London nursing home on November 4, at the age of 80, after four months’ illness.

Sir Alfred’s life was stormy and emotional. He was elected to the membership of the Royal Academy in 1892, and a year later the Shaftesbury Memorial (Eros) was unveiled. But the sculptor, who had spent on the work £4OOO more than the amount agreed to by the office of works —£3000 —alleged that his original design had been interfered with, and quarrelled with the department. The incident mentioned coupled with friction between Sir Alfred and the authorities concerning the memorial to the Duke of Clarence —(elder brother of King George) who died in IS92—whleh he was executing at Windsor, so distressed Sir Alfred that in 1900 he went into voluntary exile abroad. He resigned, a few years later, from l lie Royal Academy. He settled in Bruges, where he lived for the next 26 years in poverty, and neglected by his former friends and patrons, and there he would have remained but for the King's command. His Majesty was interested in the unfinished Duke of Clarence memorial, and in 192(1. Sir Alfred returned to England and completed the work. From that moment the aged sculptor was |

offered more commissions than he could accept, and his welcome home did much to sweeten the later years of hisjlfe. Sir Alfred was honoured in his 79th year by the Savag-i Club. The company cheered him and drank to him, and when he rose to thank them his tears fell.

"These are sweet tears,” Sir Alfred faltered. "Your wonderful welcome overcomes me. ... I am an old man.

... I have gone through every kind of vicissitude. No one knows but himself what the life of an artist is. ... . Y'ou have to bleed. . , .” Emotion choked him. Again and again he tried to say more, but only tears came. While Sir Alfred was in Bruges the dispute about Eros tapke out again. He wrote to the office of works: "There is more than £3OOO worth of copper (in Eros). Take it down, melt it. turn it into pence, and give it to the unfortunate people who nightly demand a resting-place on the Thames Embankment. and cease troubling an artist.” After his return to England to ~,omplete the Clarence Memorial Sir Alfred was also commissioned to create the Queen Alexandra Memorial at Marlborough House, which was unveiled in 1932. The same year he was knighted by the King and re-elected Royal Academician.

Sir Alfred was as exquisite a modeller as he was a carver. He was also a skilled goldsmith. In this year’s academy exhibition lie showed a bronze head of Paderewski which has been acquired for the nation under the terms of the Chantrey Bequest.