Alfred Henry Forster, Lieutenant Royal Scots Greys (d. 1918)
Model
ca. 1924 (made)
ca. 1924 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is the working model for Cecil Thomas's tomb of Alfred Henry Forster, killed in action during the First World War. Thomas was commissioned by the parents of the deceased, Lord and Lady Forster (Lord Forster was Governor-General of Australia), to complete this memorial. The effigy in plasticine shows the young man lying with his right hand over his chest, his left arm by his side. An eagle rests at his feet and a laurel wreath by his head. Apparently, four versions of this tomb were cast in bronze. There is one each in Exbury in the New Forest; the Chapel of the Lamp, All Hallows Church by the Tower, Byward street, London; St John's Church, Bromley Road, Catford; and Newcastle Cathedral, Australia. The tomb in All Hallows Church was unveiled by Edward, Prince of Wales, in 1925. The inscriptions were apparently adapted for each version. The inscription on the Exbury Monument records that the monument was erected in memory of Lord and Lady Forster's two sons, John and Alfred, both killed in the First World War.
Thomas (1885-1976) was an English sculptor and medallist. He trained under his father’s gem engraving business in London and at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London, where he also specialized in gem engraving. After 1918, when he exhibited sculpture at the Royal Academy for the first time, he became active in that field.
Thomas (1885-1976) was an English sculptor and medallist. He trained under his father’s gem engraving business in London and at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London, where he also specialized in gem engraving. After 1918, when he exhibited sculpture at the Royal Academy for the first time, he became active in that field.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 5 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Title | Alfred Henry Forster, Lieutenant Royal Scots Greys (d. 1918) (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Wood, hardened plasticine and card |
| Brief description | Model, wood, hardened plasticine and card, for tomb for Alfred Henry Forster, by Cecil Thomas, England, ca. 1924 |
| Physical description | The maquette is set on a thinly painted wood base, on one side of which is an inscription. A coat of arms and insignia are to either side of the inscription. On the other side of the tomb chest is another inscription. To each side are a further coat of arms and insignia. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by the artist |
| Object history | Bequeathed by the artist in 1978 (together with a range of other obejcts, as for example A.47-1978 to A.49-1978, A.51-1978 and A.52-1978). A collection of gem and seal impressions mostly by Thomas was also bequeathed to the Department of Metalwork. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is the working model for Cecil Thomas's tomb of Alfred Henry Forster, killed in action during the First World War. Thomas was commissioned by the parents of the deceased, Lord and Lady Forster (Lord Forster was Governor-General of Australia), to complete this memorial. The effigy in plasticine shows the young man lying with his right hand over his chest, his left arm by his side. An eagle rests at his feet and a laurel wreath by his head. Apparently, four versions of this tomb were cast in bronze. There is one each in Exbury in the New Forest; the Chapel of the Lamp, All Hallows Church by the Tower, Byward street, London; St John's Church, Bromley Road, Catford; and Newcastle Cathedral, Australia. The tomb in All Hallows Church was unveiled by Edward, Prince of Wales, in 1925. The inscriptions were apparently adapted for each version. The inscription on the Exbury Monument records that the monument was erected in memory of Lord and Lady Forster's two sons, John and Alfred, both killed in the First World War. Thomas (1885-1976) was an English sculptor and medallist. He trained under his father’s gem engraving business in London and at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London, where he also specialized in gem engraving. After 1918, when he exhibited sculpture at the Royal Academy for the first time, he became active in that field. |
| Bibliographic reference | Bilbey, Diane with Trusted, Marjorie, British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2002, p. 466, cat. no. 756 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.50-1978 |
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| Record created | January 9, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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