View source for Joseph Hermon Cawthra

{{Short description|English sculptor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox artist
| name          = Joseph Hermon Cawthra
| image         =
| caption       =
| birth_date    = 1886
| birth_place   = [[Baildon]], [[Yorkshire]], England
| death_date    = {{death date and age|1971|1886}}
| death_place   = Bradford, West Yorkshire
| nationality   = [[England|English]]
| field         = Sculpture
| training      = {{ubl|[[Titus Salt School|Salts Art School]]| [[Leeds School of Art]]| [[Royal College of Art]]| [[Royal Academy Schools]]}}
| works         = War memorials, sculptures
| influenced by =
}}
'''Joseph Hermon Cawthra''' (1886–1971), was an English monumental sculptor. During his lifetime he was considered among the leading classical sculptors working in Britain and received several commissions for public monuments, war memorials and architectural sculptures.
==Biography==
[[File:Welsh Memorial 2.jpg|thumb|Detail of Gwersyllt War Memorial]]
Joseph Hermon Cawthra was born in [[Baildon]] in [[Yorkshire]], the son of Silas and Ellen Cawthra. From the age of 14 he spent seven years as an apprentice to a monumental stonemason while, from 1904, taking evening classes at the [[Titus Salt School|Salts Art School]] in Shipley until 1907.<ref name="BuckmanVol1">{{cite book|author=David Buckman|publisher=Art Dictionaries Ltd|year=2006|title=Artists in Britain Since 1945 Vol 1, A to L |isbn=0-953260-95-X}}</ref> He then spent two years, from 1907 to 1909, at the [[Leeds School of Art]] before moving to London where he studied at [[the Royal College of Art]] until 1911 and then the [[Royal Academy Schools]] until 1916.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib5_1210297261|title= (Joseph) Hermon Cawthra RBS ARCA |author=University of Glasgow History of Art / HATII|website= Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain & Ireland 1851–1951|accessdate= 22 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="Spalding">{{cite book|author=Frances Spalding|publisher=Antique Collectors' Club|year=1990|title=20th Century Painters and Sculptors |author-link=Frances Spalding |isbn=1-85149-106-6}}</ref><ref name="Mackay">{{cite book|author=James Mackay|publisher=Antique Collectors' Club|year=1977|title=The Dictionary of Western Sculptors in Bronze |isbn= 0902028553}}</ref>
Cawthra was deemed unfit for active service in [[World War I]] and spent part of the conflict carving wooden aircraft propellers for the [[Royal Flying Corps]].<ref name="BuckmanVol1"/> After the war, he briefly worked for the sculptor [[Paul Raphael Montford]] before establishing his own studio in London.<ref name="BuckmanVol1"/> Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Cawthra's studio produced war memorials, architectural sculptures and exhibition pieces. His reputation was established by the sculptures he created for the [[Bootle War Memorial]] which, unusually for a World War I memorial featured a sculpture of an airman.<ref name="Bootle">{{NHLE |num=1283634 |desc=Bootle War Memorial including flight of steps and flanking stone tablets |access-date=9 March 2021}}</ref>  A model of the Bootle infantry and airman sculptures were shown at the [[Royal Academy]] in 1922.<ref name="Bootle"/><ref name=Wyke>{{cite book|author=Terry Wyke|title= Public Sculpture of Greater Manchester|year= 2005|publisher=Liverpool University Press| page= 441|isbn=0-85323-567-8}}</ref> The reliefs Cawthra created for the Bury war memorial were also shown at the Royal Academy and are rare in showing the contribution of women to the war effort.<ref name=Wyke/><ref name="Bootle"/>
These works led to further war memorial commissions for Cawthra, often featuring a single monumental sculpture on an obelisk.
Cawthra was elected to the [[Royal British Society of Sculptors]] (RBS) in 1937.<ref name="Spalding"/><ref name="Mackay"/> He closed his London studio in 1939 at the start of World War II and took a teaching job at the [[Brighton College of Art]].<ref name="BuckmanVol1"/> In 1941 Cawthra took the post of head of sculpture at the [[Hull School of Art and Design|Hull College of Art]], a position he retained until 1945 when he reopened his London studio.<ref name="BuckmanVol1"/> Shortly afterwards Cawthra began to teach part-time at the Bournemouth Municipal College and continued to do so until his retirement at the age of 70.<ref name="BuckmanVol1"/>
In the latter part of his life, Cawthra lived at Sheen, near [[Richmond, London|Richmond]] in south-west London but died during a visit to Cottingley in Yorkshire.<ref name="BuckmanVol1"/>
==Selected public works==
===1920s===
{{Public art header|show_architect=no|show_material=yes|show_dimensions=yes|show_artist=no|show_owner=no|show_wikidata=yes}}
{{Public art row
| image = Cawthra Odeon 4.jpg
| commonscat = Guildford Odeon relief panels
| subject =
| location = Former Odeon Cinema, [[Guildford]], [[Surrey]]
| date =
| type = Four bas-relief panels
| material = Stone
| dimensions =
| designation =
| show_wikidata=
| wikidata =
| notes = <ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.cinematopia.co.uk/guildford/guildford_odeon_2006_frieze.html|title= Old Cinemas - Guildford Odeon 2006|website= Cinematopia|date= 21 November 2006|accessdate= 16 August 2012|archive-date= 10 March 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120310192923/http://www.cinematopia.co.uk/guildford/guildford_odeon_2006_frieze.html|url-status= dead}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = War Memorial, St. John-at-Hackney Churchyard - London. (5030296710).jpg
| commonscat = Hackney War Memorial
| subject = War memorial
| location = Gardens of the [[Church of St John-at-Hackney]], [[Hackney, London]]
| date = 1921
| type =  Obelisk-mounted statue
| material = Bronze and Portland stone
| dimensions = 4.6m tall
| designation = Grade II
| show_wikidata=
| wikidata = Q26671054
| notes = <ref>{{cite web |author=|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2274 |title=War Memorials Register: Men of Hackney|date= |accessdate= 9 March 2021|work= Imperial War Museum}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1391701 |desc=War Memorial, St John at Hackney Churchyard Gardens |access-date=9 March 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = Cawthra 2.jpg
| commonscat = Monifieth War Memorial
| subject = War memorial
| location = Maule Street, [[Monifieth]], [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]]
| date = 1921
| type =  Obelisk-mounted statue
| material = Bronze and stone
| dimensions =
| designation = Category B
| coordinates =
| show_wikidata= yes
| wikidata = Q17779629
| notes = Architect, Charles Soutar<ref>{{cite web |author=|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2275 |title=War Memorials Register: Monifieth|accessdate= 9 March 2021|work= Imperial War Museum}}</ref><ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB37973|desc= Maule Street War Memorial |cat=B|accessdate= 9 March 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = Bootle War Memorial (6).JPG
| commonscat = Bootle War Memorial
| subject = [[Bootle War Memorial]]
| location = King's Gardens, [[Bootle]], [[Merseyside]]
| date = 1922
| type = Four statues on a circular plinth with panels
| material = Bronze and sandstone
| dimensions =
| designation = Grade II*
| show_wikidata=
| wikidata = Q15978913
| notes = <ref name="Bootle"/><ref>{{cite web |author=|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1286 |title=War Memorials Register: Bootle|date= |accessdate= 9 March 2021|work= Imperial War Museum}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = Welsh Memorial 1.jpg
| commonscat = Gwersyllt War Memorial
| subject = War memorial
| location = [[Gwersyllt]], [[Wrexham County Borough|Wrexham]]
| date = 1923
| type =  Obelisk-mounted statue
| material = Bronze and stone
| dimensions =
| designation = Grade II
| coordinates=
| show_wikidata= yes
| wikidata = Q29494213
| notes = <ref>{{cite web |author=|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/17873 |title=War Memorials Register: Gwersyllt WWI and WWII|date= |accessdate= 9 March 2021|work= Imperial War Museum}}</ref><ref>{{cadw|num=16534|desc= War memorial with Railings to Memorial Gardens|accessdate=9 March 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = Britannia Piccadilly Circus.jpg
| commonscat =
| subject = ''[[Britannia]]''
| location =  County Fire Office Building, 218–222 [[Regent Street]], London
| date = 1924
| type = Sculpture
| material = Stone
| dimensions =
| designation = Grade II
| show_wikidata=
| wikidata =
| notes = Architect, [[Ernest Newton]]<ref>{{NHLE |num=1227630 |desc=The County Fire Office |access-date=9 March 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = Bury War Memorial (6).jpg
| commonscat = Bury War Memorial
| subject = War memorial
| location = [[Bury, Greater Manchester]]
| date = 1924
| type = Cross on base with flanking wall and panels
| material = Stone and bronze
| dimensions =
| designation = Grade II*
| show_wikidata=
| wikidata = Q66478665
| notes = Panels by Cawthra, cross design by Sir [[Reginald Blomfield]]<ref name="Bootle"/><ref>{{cite web |author=|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2137 |title=War Memorials Register: Bury|date= |accessdate= 9 March 2021|work= Imperial War Museum}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art footer}}
===1930s===
{{Public art header|show_architect=no|show_material=yes|show_dimensions=yes|show_artist=no|show_owner=no|show_wikidata=yes}}
{{Public art row
| image = Front elevation, Leeds Civic Hall 09.jpg
| commonscat =
| subject = ''Putto with Goat'' and ''Putto with Turkey''
| location = [[Leeds Civic Hall]]
| date = c. 1933
| type = Two sculpture groups
| material = Stone
| dimensions =
| designation = Grade II*
| show_wikidata=
| wikidata =
| notes = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/model-for-leeds-civic-hall-sculpture-putto-with-goat-295263/search/actor:cawthra-joseph-hermon-18861971/page/1/view_as/grid|title=Model for Leeds Civic Hall Sculpture:Putto with Goat|website=[[Art UK]]|accessdate=12 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/model-for-leeds-civic-hall-sculpture-putto-with-turkey-295264/search/actor:cawthra-joseph-hermon-18861971/view_as/grid/page/1|title=Model for Leeds Civic Hall Sculpture:Putto with Turkey|website=Art UK|accessdate=12 March 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = London - Lancaster Gate - View North on statue & former Christ Church Spire.jpg
| commonscat = Meath Memorial
| subject = Memorial to [[Reginald Brabazon, 12th Earl of Meath]]
| location = [[Lancaster Gate]], London
| date = 1934
| type = Sculpture and relief on pillar
| material = Portland stone
| dimensions =
| designation = Grade II
| show_wikidata= yes
| wikidata = Q26516071
| notes = <ref>{{NHLE |num=1221696 |desc=Monument to Reginald Brabazon, Twelfth<!-- "Twelth" in original --> Earl of Meath |access-date=9 March 2021}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|File WORK 20/197 at The National Archives covers the development of the Earl of Meath Memorial at Lancaster Gate from 1933 to 1934. The file also includes a request to Office of Works by the Committee for a National Memorial to the Earl of Meath for approval to erect the statue. The file shows that the Office of Works sought the advice of the Royal Fine Art Commission on where the statue should be positioned and also contains an "Order of Service" for the unveiling, dedication and presentation of the memorial.|group=nb}}
}}
{{Public art row
| image = Benevolence and prudence.jpg
| commonscat = 37-39 Corn Street
| subject = ''Benevolence and Prudence''
| location =  37–39 [[Corn Street, Bristol]]
| date = 1935
| type = Statue / relief carving
| material = Portland stone
| dimensions =
| designation = Grade II
| show_wikidata= yes
| wikidata =
| notes = <ref name="CornSt">{{NHLE |num=1187274|desc=37, Corn Street |accessdate=9 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="DMerritt">{{cite book|author=Douglas Merritt|publisher=Redcliffe Press Ltd|year=2002|title= Sculpture in Bristol |isbn=1900178834}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = Peace and Plenty.jpg
| commonscat = 37-39 Corn Street
| subject = ''Peace and Plenty''
| location = 37–39 [[Corn Street, Bristol]]
| date = 1935
| type = Statue / relief carving
| material = Portland stone
| dimensions =
| designation =Grade II
| coordinates =
| show_wikidata= yes
| wikidata =
| notes =<ref name="CornSt"/><ref name="DMerritt"/>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = Sco-Dumfries Burns mausoleum.JPG
| commonscat =
| subject = [[Robert Burns]]
| location = Burns' Mausoleum, [[Dumfries]]
| date = 1936
| type = Relief
| material = Stone
| dimensions =
| designation = Category A
| coordinates =
| show_wikidata= yes
| wikidata =
| notes = Restoration & replacement of original panels<ref name="Mackay"/><ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB26337|desc= St Michael's Street, St Michael's Churchyard Burns' Mausoleum|cat=A|access-date=12 October 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = Cawthra Relief SWT.JPG
| commonscat =
| subject =
| location = [[Sadler's Wells Theatre]], London
| date = 1938
| type = Two reliefs
| material =
| dimensions =
| designation =
| show_wikidata=
| wikidata =
| notes = One relief was originally positioned over the theatre entrance, the other over the stage.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1195725 |desc=Sadler's Wells Theatre |access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = MNE 2.jpg
| commonscat =
| subject = ''Commerce'' and ''Cotton''
| location = [[Manchester Town Hall Extension|Town Hall Extension]], [[St Peter's Square, Manchester]]
| date = 1938
| type = Two relief sculptures
| material = Stone
| dimensions =
| designation = Grade II*
| show_wikidata=
| wikidata =
| notes = <ref name=Wyke/>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = Mr Therm.JPG
| commonscat =
| subject = Figures of a philosopher and a counsellor
| location = [[Manchester Town Hall Extension|Town Hall Extension]], [[St Peter's Square, Manchester]]
| date = 1938
| type = Two relief sculptures
| material = Stone
| dimensions =
| designation = Grade II*
| show_wikidata=
| wikidata =
| notes = <ref name=Wyke/>
}}
{{Public art footer}}
===Later works===
{{Public art header|show_architect=no|show_material=yes|show_dimensions=yes|show_artist=no|show_owner=no|show_wikidata=yes}}
{{Public art row
| image       = Earl of Meath memorial, St Paul's Cathedral.jpg
| commonscat  =
| subject     = [[Reginald Brabazon, 12th Earl of Meath]]
| location    = [[St Paul's Cathedral]], London
| date        = 1953
| type        = Tablet
| material =  Stone
| dimensions =
| designation =
| show_wikidata=
| wikidata =
| notes = <ref>{{cite web|url= https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/mural-tablet-monument-to-reginald-12th-earl-of-meath-18411929-kp-292157/search/actor:cawthra-joseph-hermon-18861971/page/1/view_as/grid|title=Mural tablet, Monument to Reginald, 12th Earl of Meath (1841-1929) KP|website=Art UK|access-date=24 June 2022}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = Thomas Bata.jpg
| commonscat =
| subject = [[Tomáš Baťa]]
| location = Former [[Bata shoe factory]], Princess Margaret Road, [[East Tilbury]], [[Essex]]
| date = 1955
| type = Statue on pedestal
| material = Bronze and stone
| dimensions =
| designation =
| coordinates =
| show_wikidata= yes
| wikidata =
| notes = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.batamemories.org.uk/MAIN/ENG/00-EN-Pages/07-Worldwar.html|title= World War II |website=Bata Heritage Centre|accessdate= 16 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="JoDarke">{{cite book|author=Jo Darke|publisher=Macdonald Illustrated|year=1991|title= The Monument Guide to England and Wales |isbn=0-356-17609-6}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art row
| image = Affection by Cawthra.JPG
| commonscat =
| subject = ''Affection''
| location = [[Bishops Park]], [[Fulham]], London
| date = 1963
| type = Statue
| material = Portland stone
| dimensions =
| designation =
| coordinates =
| show_wikidata= yes
| wikidata =
| notes = <ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.londongardensonline.org.uk/gardens-online-record.asp?ID=HAF044|title= Pryor's Bank Gardens|website= London Gardens Online|accessdate= 23 August 2012|archive-date= 26 June 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150626153104/http://www.londongardensonline.org.uk/gardens-online-record.asp?ID=HAF044|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Cherry, Bridget |author2=Nikolaus Pevsner |year= 1991|title= London 3: North West|publisher= Yale University Press|page= 238}}</ref><ref>{{NHLE |num=1001677 |desc= Bishop's Park |access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{Public art footer}}
===Other works===
* In the 1930s for a major renovation of the Bentalls Store in [[Kingston upon Thames]], Cawthra carved several embellishments and a coat of arms. Since then the store has seen further major structural changes and all that now remains of Cawthra's work is the coat of arms.
* In 1937, [[Selfridges]] on [[Oxford Street]] in London mounted what it called a "sculpted pageant of English History and symbolic Empire groups". Various large bas-reliefs were erected in front of the store. The sculptors given commissions were chosen by [[William Reid Dick]]. Cawthra was chosen to sculpt the relief which represented India. The Henry Moore Institute Archive Leeds Cawthra papers reference 1995.9 include cuttings from "The London Illustrated News" covering these bas-reliefs.
* A 1948 war memorial, now lost, in the form of a statuette of Saint George, for the [[Junior Carlton Club]] in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/object.php?id=msib6_1225204025 |author=University of Glasgow History of Art / HATII_ |title= Saint George|website= Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851–1951|accessdate= 22 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/59043 |title=War Memorials Register: Junior Carlton Club WW2 (Lost) |accessdate= 9 March 2021|work= Imperial War Museum}}</ref>
* Cawthra sculpted the figure of ''Truth'' on the top of the dome of the Town Hall building in [[Braintree, Essex]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/maquette-for-truth-which-surmounts-braintree-town-hall-251925/search/actor:cawthra-joseph-hermon-18861971/page/1/view_as/grid|title=Marquette for 'Truth', Which Surmounts Braintree Town Hall|website=Art UK|accessdate=12 March 2021}}</ref>
* Cawthra's composition ''Meditation'' was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1957 and then stood in Gwendwr Garden, Fulham, London but was subsequently stolen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Images/Appendix%20B2a%20Type%20B%20latest%20with%20clocks%2026%2007%2010_tcm21%2D149134.pdf|title=''Welcome to St Peter's Square'' / ''Welcome to Gwendwr Gardens.''|website=London Borough Hammersmith & Fulham|accessdate=23 August 2012|archive-date=28 September 2011|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110928110305/http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Images/Appendix%20B2a%20Type%20B%20latest%20with%20clocks%2026%2007%2010_tcm21%2D149134.pdf|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>
* For the Church of St Michael and All Angels in [[Kingston upon Hull]], Cawthra sculpted a ''Madonna and child''.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1443335 |desc= Church of St Michael and All Angels |access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref>
* A bust of [[George V]] for [[Mombassa]].<ref name="Spalding"/>
==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Joseph Hermon Cawthra (sculptor)}}
*{{Art UK bio}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cawthra, Joseph Hermon}}
[[Category:1886 births]]
[[Category:1971 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century English sculptors]]
[[Category:20th-century English male artists]]
[[Category:Alumni of Leeds Arts University]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Art]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy Schools]]
[[Category:English male sculptors]]
[[Category:British modern sculptors]]
[[Category:People from Baildon]]