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Design
Skidmore, Francis Alexander - Enlarge image
Design
- Place of origin:
Coventry, England (made)
- Date:
1859-1876 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Skidmore, Francis Alexander (the younger), born 1817 - died 1896 (designer)
- Materials and Techniques:
Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour on paper
- Credit Line:
Purchased with the assistance of the Friends of the National Libraries
- Museum number:
E.378-2006
- Gallery location:
Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C, case MB2E, shelf SH63, box M80
Two designs, one above the other, with the top one showing a bird's eye view of a pattern made by semi-precious stones in a metalwork mount and the lower one depicting the mount in profile. The designs are by Francis Skidmore, (1817-1896) who was a leading Victorian metalworker. Now little known, Skidmore was once famous as the maker of the Albert Memorial (1863-1876) and the Hereford Screen (which was exhibited in London at the International Exhibition of 1862). Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811-1878) designed both the memorial and the screen and employed Skidmore to execute them. Skidmore also produced church plate, light fittings, and furniture but was best known for his innovative architectural ironwork. Based in Coventry, Skidmore worked for some of the leading designers of the Gothic Revival movement, particularly Sir George Gilbert Scott. Skidmore's career peaked in the 1860s when his factory employed over 100 staff but due to ill health and he died in relative poverty.
These designs are highly finished presentation drawings to be shown to the client. They show mosaic in metalwork mounts of the type on both the Albert Memorial and the Hereford Screen.
