William Bloye
William James Bloye | |
---|---|
Born | 1890 Cornwall |
Died | 6 June 1975 Arezzo, Italy |
Known for | Sculpture |
Awards |
William James Bloye (1890 – 6 June 1975 Arezzo) was an English sculptor, active in Birmingham either side of World War II.
Contents
Life
He studied, and later, taught at the Birmingham School of Art (his training was interrupted by World War I, when he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1915 to 1917;[1] he was eventually succeeded at Birmingham by John Bridgeman), where his pupils included Gordon Herickx, Roy Kitchin, Raymond Mason, John Poole and Ian Walters. He also studied stone-carving and letter cutting under Eric Gill around 1921.
In 1925 he became a member of the Birmingham Civic Society, having, at about that time, a studio at 111, Golden Hillock Road, Small Heath, Birmingham. As Birmingham's unofficial civic sculptor he worked on virtually all public commissions including libraries, hospitals and the University. He often carved bas-relief plaques, typically for public houses in Birmingham, and decorated a number of buildings by the architect Holland W. Hobbiss.
During the 1920s, he served on the Technical Committee of the Birmingham Civic Society.[2]
He became a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors: associate (with the honorific suffix ARBS) in 1934, and fellow (FRBS) in 1938. He also won the latter's Otto Beit Medal. Retiring from the School of Art in 1956 he moved to Solihull. He died in Arezzo, Italy in 1975.
In December 2010, a blue plaque was unveiled at City College, on the site of his former studio.[1]
As of January 2010, Birmingham City Council are working on the restoration Bloye's statue of Pan at Aston Hall. The statue's head is missing, and they have appealed for old photographs, to assist in its reconstruction.[3]
RBSA
Bloye was closely associated with the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA). Although the two 1919 bronze plaques at the RBSA entrance are the earliest known work by Bloye in Birmingham, he only became a member in 1930.[4] After a period as vice-president, he became president in 1948[5] and served in that role until 1950. He was also the RBSA's Professor of Sculpture[5] from at least the mid-1940s until at least 1961[6] (after which time the post is no longer mentioned in the annual catalogues).[7]
The Society's permanent collection includes one of his works, a life-size plaster bust, Head of Man.[8] It is undated and not usually on display. The subject's name is not recorded.
Works
Image | Title / subject | Location and coordinates |
Date | Type | Material | Dimensions | Designation | Owner / administrator | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
120x120px | Allegories of Art and Industry | Over the north-west door of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (The Feeney Gallery extension), Great Charles Street Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
c. 1919 | Stone | Birmingham City Council | [9] | |||
120x120px | Aesculapius | Chest Clinic, Great Charles Street Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1930 | Relief carving | Stone | [9] | |||
More images |
Boulton, Watt and Murdoch | Broad Street Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1956 | statues | Gilded Bronze | Birmingham City Council | Matthew Boulton, James Watt and William Murdoch | ||
More images |
Queen Victoria | Victoria Square Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1951 | statue | Bronze | Birmingham City Council | Recast from a marble statue by Thomas Brock[9] | ||
Royal Oak | Lozells Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
c. 1936 | Stone | Decoration around the doorway of a former pub (now a shop). Formerly brightly painted.[9] | |||||
120x120px | The Boar's Head | The Boar's Head, Perry Barr Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
c. 1938 | Wood | Painted pub sign comprising a model boar's head, on a pole.[9] Taken from the arms of the Gough-Calthorpe family of nearby Perry Hall | ||||
120x120px | Running stag | Perry Barr Stadium Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1929 | Bas-relief | Stone | Logo of Birchfield Harriers.[9] Attributed.[9] | |||
120x120px | The Towers | Tower Hill, Great Barr Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1936 | Stone | Bloye was responsible for all the stone carving on this brick building[9] | ||||
120x120px | Bronze Plaques | Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1919 | Bronze | Formerly at the Society's old headquarters on New Street[9] | ||||
120x120px | Call, Front Line and Return | Hall of Memory, Broad Street Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1925 | Interior bas-relief carvings | [9] | ||||
120x120px More images |
'Wisdom, Fortitude, Charity, Faith' | Legal and General Assurance Building, 7 Waterloo Street Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1932 | Four bas relief panels | Exterior high level bas-relief carvings.[9] | ||||
120x120px More images |
Capitals and pediment sculptures | New Oxford House, 16 Waterloo Street Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1935 | Exterior: two capitals, shield above door and upstairs pediment and putto.[9] | |||||
120x120px | Coat of arms and two lion reliefs | Council House, Priory Road, Dudley Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1928 | Façade on Council House (Town Hall)[10] | |||||
120x120px | Fox and Hollybush | Acocks Green Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1927 | -8Bas-relief | From former Fox Hollies pub.[9] Now on Lidl supermarket. | ||||
120x120px | War Memorial: George and the Dragon and lions on flagpoles | Town Hall, Priory Street, Dudley Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1928 | Also four bronze lions (1936) on flagpoles, Town Hall tower[10] | |||||
120x120px | Dudley's Past | Town Hall, corner of Priory Road and Priory Street, Dudley Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1935 | [10] | |||||
The Antelope | Sparkhill Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
c. 1929 | Bas-relief pub sign | Designed by Bloye, sculpted by his assistant, Tom Wright[9] | |||||
Allegory of Painting | Art Gallery, Avenue Road, Leamington Spa | 1929 | Sandstone | Life-size female nude[11] | |||||
120x120px | Pan | Aston Hall, Birmingham Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1934 | [3][9] | |||||
120x120px | Two stone vases | Aston Hall, Birmingham Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1934 | Vases | Stone | Birmingham City Council | [9] | ||
120x120px | Capitals and Heads | Council House, Priory Road, Dudley Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1935 | [10] | |||||
Dudley from the Wren's Nest | Council House, Priory Road, Dudley Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
1935 | Two reliefs | Plaster | Within building - at entrance to council chamber and entrance to committee reception room.<0ref name="NoszlopySBC" /> | ||||
St. Nicholas Rescuing the Three Children | John Shelton School, Coventry (former) | 1936 | Lost after the school was demolished in 1999[11] | ||||||
120x120px | Bear and Staff | The Bear Inn, Stratford Road, Sparkhill Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
c. 1937 | Bas-relief | Pub sign, depicting feature of the arms of Warwickshire, in which the area was located at the time of installation.[9] | ||||
120x120px More images |
Spirit of Knowledge | Yardley Wood Library Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
c. 1936 | Bas-relief | stone | [9]
|
Work | Location (Birmingham unless stated) |
Date | Picture | Coordinates (With links to map and aerial photo sources) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brookvale Pub, sign with putto and grapes | Erdington | c. 1934 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Painted stone pub sign.[9] |
Huntsman and Dog, pub sign | The Green Man Pub, High Street, Harborne | c. 1940 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Painted wooden pub sign.[9] |
Library Emblem | Yardley Library, Yardley | 1938 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Apollo fountain | Coronation Gardens, Ednam Road, Dudley | 1939 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Sculpture on top of fountain[10] The model was international gymnast and basketball player Fred Starkey.[12] The plaster models are in the collection of Birmingham Museums Trust.[13] |
Josiah Mason | Now at the junction of Chester Road & Orphanage Road in Erdington | 1952 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Bronze bust, recast from a marble statue (subsequently destroyed) by Francis John Williamson of 1885, which stood opposite Mason Science College in Edmund Street[9] |
Engineering, bas-relief | Mechanical Engineering Building at the University of Birmingham | 1954 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | [9] |
Aesculapius | Medical School, University of Birmingham | c. 1938 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | [9] |
John Skirrow Wright | Birmingham Council House | 1956 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Bronze bust cast from a marble statue (subsequently destroyed) by Francis John Williamson[9] |
St. Alphege | St. Alphege CofE Infants School, New Road, Solihull | 1959 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Restored in 1994[11] |
Mermaid fountain | University of Birmingham Guild of Students | 1960 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Bronze[9] | |
Mermaid | University of Birmingham Guild of Students | 1960 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Clipsham stone sculpture, on wall[9] | |
Decoration | The Mermaid (public house), Sparkhill | c. 1960 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | (Bas-relief pub sign attributed to Alan Bridgewater[9]) | |
Bust of Wilfred Byng Kenrick | Byng Kenrick Grammar School For Girls | 1962 | (unveiled 1963)Bronze. Lost, believed stolen.[9]) | ||
Coat of Arms | Dental Hospital | c. 1973 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Fibreglass. Now removed.[9] |
Head of Man | Royal Birmingham Society of Artists | undated | 150px | Plaster[8] | |
Sermon to the Birds | St Francis of Assisi's Church, Bournville | 1933 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Oak Wood. Part of Grade II listed building.[9] |
Ten panels in ceiling | Moseley School (old assembly hall) | undated | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Plaster[14] (Full image set at Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons). |
Sun and lettering | Sun Insurance Building, Bennetts Hill | 1927 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Stone bas-relief[9]
Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons). |
Heraldic sculptures (also Bronze statue of girl in fountain in courtyard) | Fountain Court, Steelhouse Lane | 1964 | 100px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Stone bas-relief. Statue of girl in private courtyard.[9] Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons. |
Mother and Child, Young Child Playing | 90 Lancaster Street, Birmingham | c1935 | 100px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Stone bas-relief[9] |
Maternity | Carnegie Welfare Institute, Hunter's Road, Hockley | c1923-6 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Painted mahogany[9] |
The Good Shepherd and Latin Cross | Christ Church, Burney Lane, Ward End | c1935 | 100px 100px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Stone bas-relief[9] |
Christ | All Saints church, Coneyford Road, Shard End | 1951-5 | 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Stone[9] |
Lion Pediment and Seated Craftsmen | Supreme Works, 186 Soho Hill, Handsworth | c1922 | 150px 150px | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Stone bas-relief.[9] Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons. |
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Bloye. |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ RBSA catalogues, 1962 onwards
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 RBSA archives, catalogue number B43
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16 9.17 9.18 9.19 9.20 9.21 9.22 9.23 9.24 9.25 9.26 9.27 9.28 9.29 9.30 9.31 9.32 9.33 9.34 9.35 9.36 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. - via HighBeam Research, subscription needed
- ↑ Accession numbers: 1991P111; 1991P112
- ↑ The Moseleians Association - Moseley School and the work of William Bloye (1890-1975)
- Articles with hCards
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- 1890 births
- 1975 deaths
- British architectural sculptors
- English sculptors
- Modern sculptors
- People from Small Heath, Birmingham
- Alumni of Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
- Members and Associates of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
- British letter cutters
- 20th-century British sculptors