Donald Gilbert (1900–1961), named Hubert Donald Macgeoch Gilbert at birth, was an English sculptor and modeller.[1] He studied at prestigious art schools in England, Rome and Florence before beginning his career. He did works under his own name, such as commissions for the Adelphi building in London. He also collaborated with his father, Walter Gilbert, a sculptor at H.H. Martyn & Co..

Donald Gilbert
Troon War Memorial
Born
Hubert Donald Macgeoch Gilbert

1900
Burcot, Worcestershire
Died1961
NationalityEnglish
EducationBirmingham Central School of Art, the Royal College of Art and the Royal Academy and in Rome and Florence
Known forSculpture
AwardsRoyal Academy silver and bronze medals

Personal life and studies

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Gilbert was born in Burcot, Worcestershire in 1900 and as a child studied at Rugby School.[1]

Aside from studies in Florence and Rome, Gilbert studied at the Birmingham Central School of Art, the Royal College of Art and the Royal Academy, where he was a silver and bronze medalist. In 1927 he was highly commended in the British Prix de Rome final competition.[1]

Gilbert, who worked under his full name, became a member of Royal Birmingham Society of Artists in 1937. He exhibited at Chenil Galleries, Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, Royal Society of Artists Birmingham, Royal Academy, Royal Hibernian Academy, Royal Scottish Academy and Walker Gallery in Liverpool.[1]

Works

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Gilbert's works include decorative and animal sculpture, portrait busts, pottery and sculptural works that he collaborated on with his father at H.H. Marten. He designed pottery for Ashtead Potters and Bourne Denby Pottery. One of his most notable works was a carving for London's Adelphi Building.[1]

Work Image Location Notes and References
Adelphi Building The Strand, London This building has an exterior sculpture by Gilbert.[2]
Edward Elgar Guildhall, Worcester
John Logie Baird   National Portrait Gallery, London The bronze bust was made in 1943
Sir Henry Wood   Queen's Hall, Langham Place, London The bust of Wood was unveiled in 1938 by Sir Walford Davies as part of the celebration of Wood's fifty years as a conductor. It is one of a few pieces of art that survived the hall's destruction during World War II.[3]
Sir Henry Wood Royal Albert Hall, London A bronze bust of Wood, belonging to the Royal Academy of Music, is placed in front of the Organ for the entire BBC Proms season.[4]
Memorial to Walter Gilbert and Louis Weingartner Hanbury Church, Hanbury, Worcestershire
Stocks-Masseys at Towneley Hall Burnley, Lancashire
Walter Gilbert Hartlebury, Worcestershire Gilbert's bust of his father resides at the Hartlebury Museum.
Winifred Spooner A bronze bust of pilot Winifred Spooner unveiled on 30 May 1934 by Lindsay Everard MP at the headquarters of the Women’s Automobile and Sports Association, presented by an anonymous donor.[5]
Bust of a man, head and shoulders
 
Aberdeen, Scotland Bust of a man, head and shoulders, Bronze, Signed and Dated 1960, 53 cm - 33 cm (20.87 in - 12.99 in) Sold 2017
John Logie Baird West Clyde Street, Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute A bust of John Logie Baird mounted on a concrete plinth, depicted in middle age, wearing a suit. A version of the 1943 original is now in the National Museum of Scotland.

Works with Walter Gilbert

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It was in around 1922 that Gilbert worked as a modeller and worked with his father, Walter Gilbert.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Medhurt, Phillip. Hubert Donald Macgeoch Gilbert. Works Arranged and Executed by Walter Gilbert in association with Louis Weingartner and Donald Gilbert. Archive.org. p. 3. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  2. ^ Adelphi Building. British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  3. ^ Elkin, Robert (1946). Royal Philharmonic. London: Rider. p. 20. OCLC 3141945.
  4. ^ Sir Henry Wood Collection. Royal Academy of Music. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  5. ^ "The Woman Engineer". www2.theiet.org. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
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