# Gilbert Bayes

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**Gilbert William Bayes** (4 April 1872 – 10 July 1953) was an English sculptor.[1] His art works varied in scale from medals to large architectural clocks, monuments and equestrian statues and he was also a designer of some note, creating chess pieces, mirrors and cabinets.[2]

## Career

Bayes was born in London into a family of artists, his father being Alfred Walter Bayes, an established artist at the time. He was one of four children and brother to both the well-known artist and critic [Walter Bayes](/source/Walter_Bayes), and to the [Arts & Crafts](/source/Arts_%26_Crafts_movement) designer [Jessie Bayes](/source/Jessie_Bayes). Gilbert Bayes studied at the [City and Guilds of London Art School](/source/City_and_Guilds_of_London_Art_School) and then at the [Royal Academy Schools](/source/Royal_Academy_Schools) between 1896 and 1899, where he won a gold medal and a travelling scholarship to Paris.[3][2] Bayes' lengthy and illustrious career began as a student under Sir [George Frampton](/source/George_Frampton) and [Harry Bates](/source/Harry_Bates_(sculptor)),[4] and so became associated with the British [New Sculpture](/source/New_Sculpture) movement and its focus on architectural sculpture. He first exhibited at the [Royal Academy](/source/Royal_Academy) in London in 1889, aged 17.[5] In Paris, Bayes won an honourable mention at the 1900 International Exhibition, then several medals at the [Paris Salon](/source/Paris_Salon) and, in 1925, a gold medal and diploma of honour at the Exhibition of Decorative Art.[6] His work was part of the [sculpture event](/source/Art_competitions_at_the_1928_Summer_Olympics#Sculpture) in the art competition at the [1928 Summer Olympics](/source/1928_Summer_Olympics).[7]

Bayes is perhaps best remembered for his interest in colour, his association with the [Royal Doulton](/source/Royal_Doulton) Company, and his work in polychrome ceramics and enamelled bronze. His 1939 major polychrome stonework frieze, *Pottery through the Ages* at the Doulton Headquarters in London was removed in the 1960s when the building was razed, and the 50-foot (15-metre) work was re-located to the [Victoria and Albert Museum](/source/Victoria_and_Albert_Museum).[5][2][8] He also designed a number of war memorials, with public works throughout the former British Empire, from New South Wales to Bangalore.

In 1896, Bayes was elected to the [Art Workers' Guild](/source/Art_Workers'_Guild), and in 1925 was elected to the position of Master.[2] Bayes served as president of the [Royal British Society of Sculptors](/source/Royal_British_Society_of_Sculptors), PRBS, from 1939 through 1944, and of the [Ealing Art Group](/source/Ealing_Art_Group) from 1947 to 1953.[5] He died in London in 1953.[3] Bayes' home at 4 Greville Place in St. John's Wood bears a [blue plaque](/source/List_of_blue_plaques) erected by [English Heritage](/source/English_Heritage) in 2007.[9]

## Personal life

In 1906, Bayes married Gertrude Smith, a fellow sculptor, in Farnham, Surrey. They had two children:

- Eleanor Jean Gilbert Bayes (1908–1999), also an artist
- Geoffrey Gilbert Bayes (1912–2001)

## Works

- Statues of Sir William Chambers and Sir Charles Barry and other exterior work at the [Victoria and Albert Museum](/source/Victoria_and_Albert_Museum) under [Sir Aston Webb](/source/Sir_Aston_Webb), London, circa 1909.[5][8]
- *Prehistoric Period* and *Classic Period*, architectural sculpture at the [National Museum Cardiff](/source/National_Museum_Cardiff), 1914–1915[10]
- *Destiny*, Albion Gardens, [Ramsgate](/source/Ramsgate), Kent, dedicated 1920
- Hythe war memorial, Kent, 1921[11]
- [Todmorden War Memorial](/source/Todmorden_War_Memorial), West Yorkshire, 1921.[5]
- [*The Offerings of Peace* and *The Offerings of War*](/source/The_Offerings_of_Peace_and_The_Offerings_of_War) at the [Art Gallery of New South Wales](/source/Art_Gallery_of_New_South_Wales), 1923[12][2]
- The [National War Memorial](/source/National_War_Memorial_(Newfoundland)), [St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador](/source/St._John's,_Newfoundland_and_Labrador), 1924. The bronze figures for the memorial were cast by [Ercole James Parlanti](/source/Parlanti_Foundry) of London.[13]
- *The Building of King Solomon's Temple*, Central Warwickshire Masonic Temple (demolished), Birmingham, 1927 (frieze said to be in store)
- The *Queen of Time* monumental bronze and enamel group with clock above central Oxford Street entrance to [Selfridges](/source/Selfridges) department store, London, 1928[6][5]
- *Drama Through the Ages*, polychrome ceramic frieze for the [Saville Theatre](/source/Saville_Theatre) (now the Odeon Covent Garden cinema), Shaftesbury Avenue, London, 1931
- The [Segrave Trophy](/source/Segrave_Trophy), 1932[5][14][15][6]
- About 200 sculpted figures executed in coloured and glazed [Doultonware](/source/Doultonware) set on washing line posts and finials in the housing estates of the St Pancras Home Improvement Society (now Origin Housing Group), [Somers Town, London](/source/Somers_Town,_London), and at York Rise Estate, Camden, 1920s and 1930s.[16] In 1980 the figures were almost all intact and in good repair; since then, large numbers of figures have been destroyed, removed or stolen.
- Exterior bas-reliefs and interior work at the BBC [Broadcasting House](/source/Broadcasting_House), London, 1931[17]
- Six allegorical relief panels, [Commercial Bank of Scotland](/source/Commercial_Bank_of_Scotland), Bothwell Street, Glasgow, 1934–35[18]
- A series of sporting figures outside [Lord's Cricket Ground](/source/Lord's_Cricket_Ground), London, 1934[1][5]
- *Pottery through the Ages*, polychrome ceramic frieze for the London headquarters of the [Royal Doulton](/source/Royal_Doulton) Company, Lambeth, 1939. Building demolished, but frieze displayed in the Victoria and Albert Museum.[2][8]
- Two memorial bronzes at the [St James' Church, Warter](/source/St_James'_Church,_Warter)
- Statue of [Jamsetji Tata](/source/Jamsetji_Tata) at the [Indian Institute of Science](/source/Indian_Institute_of_Science), [Bangalore](/source/Bangalore)
- *Blue Robed Bambino* fountain at the [Centre William Rappard](/source/Centre_William_Rappard), Geneva (also known as *Child with Fish*)
- Reliefs featuring musicians on No.8 [Cavendish Square](/source/Cavendish_Square), London. The building had been the showroom of Brinmeads, an English piano manufacturer.

## Legacy

The [Victoria and Albert Museum](/source/Victoria_and_Albert_Museum) in South Kensington has named a gallery after Bayes.[19] In 2011 the [Royal British Society of Sculptors](/source/Royal_British_Society_of_Sculptors) created the Gilbert Bayes Award for early career sculptors.[20]

## References

1. Ian Chilvers (2004). *The Oxford Dictionary of Art*. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-860476-9.

1. University of Glasgow History of Art / HATII (2011). ["Gilbert William Bayes HRI, PRBS"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230610043926/https://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1203020390). *Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain & Ireland 1851–1951*. Archived from [the original](https://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1203020390) on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2020.

1. Frances Spalding (1990). *20th Century Painters and Sculptors*. Antique Collectors' Club. ISBN 1-85149-106-6.

1. Public sculpture of Glasgow By Raymond McKenzie, Gary Nisbet

1. ["Gilbert Bayes (1872-1953)"](https://sculptors.org.uk/past-members/gilbert-bayes). *Royal Society of Sculptors*. Retrieved 8 November 2021.

1. David Buckman (2006). *Artists in Britain Since 1945 Vol 1, A to L*. Art Dictionaries Ltd. ISBN 0-953260-95-X.

1. ["Gilbert Bayes"](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/920440). *Olympedia*. Retrieved 29 July 2020.

1. ["Pottery through the Ages"](http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O9377/pottery-through-the-ages-tile-frieze-bayes-gilbert/). *Victoria and Albert Museum*. Retrieved 27 April 2020.

1. ["BAYES, GILBERT (1931-1953)"](https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/gilbert-bayes/). English Heritage. Retrieved 23 October 2021.

1. John Newman (1995). *Glamorgan*. [The Buildings of Wales](/source/Pevsner_Architectural_Guides). London: Penguin. p. 228.

1. AGNSW Catalogue references [*Offerings of Peace*](http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/3254/) and [*Offerings of War*](http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/3255/)

1. ["First World War Commemorations At Home"](https://www.heritage.nf.ca/first-world-war/articles/commemorations-at-home.php). *Newfoundland & Labrador in the First World War*. [Memorial University of Newfoundland](/source/Memorial_University_of_Newfoundland). Retrieved 7 April 2020.

1. ["SEGRAVE TROPHY."](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16888492). *[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald)*. No. 29,477. 25 June 1932. p. 9. Retrieved 14 December 2017. – via National Library of Australia.

1. ["SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29957602). *[The Mercury](/source/The_Mercury_(Hobart))*. Vol. CXXXVI, no. 20,222. 1 June 1932. p. 3. Retrieved 14 December 2017. – via National Library of Australia.

1. Roland Jeffery, Housing Happenings in Somers Town in Housing the Twentieth Century Nation, Twentieth Century Architecture No 9, 2008, ISBN 978-0-9556687-0-8

1. [BBC Broadcasting House reliefs](http://heritage.elettra.co.uk/artdeco/profile.php?building=bbc)

1. Peter, Bruce (2025), *Art Deco Scotland: Design and Architecture in the Jazz Age*, [Historic Environment Scotland](/source/Historic_Environment_Scotland), Edinburgh, p. 168, ISBN 9781849173445

1. ["Room 111: The Gilbert Bayes Sculpture Gallery"](http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/galleries/level-3/room-111-sculpture/). *V & A*. Retrieved 22 October 2021.

1. ["Awards - Gilbert Bayes Award"](https://sculptors.org.uk/awards/open-all/gilbert-bayes-award). *Royal British Society of Sculptors*. Retrieved 22 October 2021.

## External links

- [Works by Bayes](https://collections.vam.ac.uk/search/?q=Gilbert+Bayes&offset=0) in the [Victoria and Albert Museum](/source/Victoria_and_Albert_Museum)
- [National Archives article](http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Bayes%2C_Gilbert_(1872-1953)%2C_Sculptor) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110202153156/http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Bayes%2C_Gilbert_(1872-1953)%2C_Sculptor) 2 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- [Gilbert Bayes Trust](http://www.gilbertbayes.com)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gilbert Bayes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Bayes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Bayes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.