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Gamley, Henry Snell, RSA

1865 – 1928

The son of Alexander Gamley, Butler at Craigie House, Logie Pert by Forfar, and his wife Fanny Dry or Gamley, Henry Snell Gamley was born in the East Gate Lodge House. He studied at the art school at the Royal Institution [Edinburgh School of Art, formerly the Trustees Academy] under Hodder and then in Kensington under Professor Lanteri, he proceeded to work under William Grant Stevenson RSA for about three years between 1899 and 1902. He was involved in a number of public commissions including War Memorials at Montrose, a memorial statue of King Edward at Holyrood and a statue of Robert Burns in Wyoming. He exhibited at the RSA from 1903 until 1928. He became an Associate Member of the RSA in 1908 and an Academician in 1920. He is buried in the Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh in which are several other gravestones containing casts by him. RSA Annual Report 1928, Notice XII Obituary: "HENRY SNELL GAMLEY RSA: Mr H.S.Gamley died suddenly in Paris on 25th October 1928, at the comparatively early age of 63, where he had just completed an important commission for Wyoming, USA, a great figure of Robert Burns. His death was a personal loss to every member of the Academy, in which he had only friends. Born at Logie Pert, Craigo, near Montrose in 1865, he very early devoted himself to the work of his life, and after studying in the School of Art under Mr Hodder, and latterly with Professor Lanteri at Kensington, where he gained many medals, he worked under the late W.G.Stevenson, RSA for three years. Elected an Associate in 1906, he attained the rank of Academician in 1920, and was ever a faithful member of the Academy. There is not space to mention more than a few of his many works, the most important being the memorial statue of King Edward at Holyrood. This commission brought him into intimate contact with the Royal Family, and for H.M. the late Queen Alexandra and H.M. Queen Mary, he was entrusted with various commands. Mr Gamley's War Memorials at Montrose and Cupar are successful and widely appreciated works, and among his many bust portraits, that of the Rev.T.Ratcliffe Barnett is generally regarded as peculiarly sensitive. A strikingly handsome presence, an invariably friendly greeting, consistent simple courtesy, and a beautiful singing voice, made Mr Gamley welcome in many circles, and one can only regret that so capable a sculptor, and an individuality so much esteemed, should be lost to the Academy and to the limited ranks of Scottish Sculptors." vide McEwan, Peter J. ; The Dictionary of Scottish Art and Architecture, Glengarden Press, 2004 (2nd rev ed), p197, which records his 2 exterior sculptures for the Usher Hall, Edinburgh for which he also did much interior work (details and images for which vide http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/record/rcahms/52696/edinburgh-lothian-road-usher-hall/rcahms?) but omits, for example, his memorial statue to Col David Stewart of Garth at Glenlyon in Perthshire, amongst others. For more biographical info and images and a list of some of Snell's works vide; http://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Henry%20Snell%20Gamley&item_id=907000



An image from the RSA collection.