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Brock, Thomas, Sir, RA HRSA

1847 – 1922

RSA Annual Report, 1922, Obituary; Notice IX(2) Sir Thomas Brock, KCB, RA, HRSA. A native of Worcester, where he wa sborn in 1847, Thomas Brock at the age of nineteen became a pupil of the eminent irish sculptor, J H Foley, several of whose most important works - amingst others the O'Connell monument for Dublin and that of Lord Canning at calcutta - it fell to him to finish on the death of his master in 1874. From the date of his earliest contributions to the Royal Academy his refined and unconventional talent was recognised, aloike in ideal works such as "The genius of Poetry", and in his numerous busts and memorial statues. In this latter genre the statues of Sir Richard owen and Bishop Philpott of Worcester are notable examples, whilst his public work may be said to have culminated in the colossal equestrian statue of the Black Prince, unveiled at Leeds in 1901, and the Queen Victoria Memorial at Buckingham Palace. Many honours fell to Sir Thomas in the course of his long and brilliant career. In addition to the knighthood conferred on him by His majesty King George V in 1911, he was created a KCB in the same year[sic - this is the knighthood]. The Royal Academy elected him to its Associateship in 1883, and to premier rank in 1901[sic - actually 1891]. Sir Thomas was a DCL of Oxford, an Honorary Freeman of the City of Worcester, and an Honorary Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects. For several years he was President of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, and in 1911 he wa selected an Honorary Member of the Royal Scottish Academy. Since 1903 Sir Thomas had been a frequent contributor to the Academy's Exhibitions, his works including busts of Lord Leighton, PRA, of His late majesty King Edward VII, and of the late Lord Lister. Sir Thoma sdied on 22nd August [1922].



An image from the RSA collection.