Alfred Frank Hardiman
Encyclopedia
Alfred Frank Hardiman sculptor, was born at 17 Orde Hall Street, London
, the son of Alfred William Hardiman, silversmith, of Holborn
, and his wife, Ada Myhill.
Hardiman won a London County Council
Scholarship to the Royal College of Art
in 1912, and three years later joined the Royal Academy
School. After a period as an engineer's draughtsman in the Royal Flying Corps
during the war, Hardiman resumed his studies and in 1920 was awarded the Rome scholarship, spending two years at the British School at Rome
. There Hardiman developed his style, a blend of naturalism and classicism influenced by Roman and Etruscan art and early fifth century Greek sculpture.
Hardiman’s best-known (but also most controversial) work is the Earl Haig Memorial
on Whitehall in London. More universally admired are his heraldic lions flanking the main entrance to the City Hall, Norwich
, a work which fully epitomises his style. He was appointed consultant sculptor on the building, having worked on the Haig Memorial with one of the architects, Stephen Rowland Pierce
. Hardiman also carved three large stone figures for the council chamber, and worked with other sculptors on the project including James Woodford
and Eric Aumonier
.
Hardiman was elected A.R.A. in 1936 and R.A. in 1944. He became a fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors in 1938 and the following year received their silver medal for his statue of Haig. In 1946 he won a gold medal for his bronze fountain figure for the New Council House, College Green, Bristol
, which however was never erected.
In 1918 he married Violet, daughter of Herbert Clifton White, of London, and had two daughters. He died at Stoke Poges
17 April 1949.
• Whitehall, London: Earl Haig Memorial
• County Hall, Westminster: Four statue groups
• St James's church, Piccadilly, London: Memorial fountain to Viscount Southwood
• Eltham Palace
, London: St George (originally at Carlos Place)
• City Hall, Norwich
: Two bronze heraldic lions, three statues: Recreation, Wisdom, Education
• Old St Paul's church, Edinburgh: Calvary
• Bantaskine, Falkirk: Peace
• Kippen Kirk, Stirling: Entry into Jerusalemhttp://www.fkkt.org.uk/bronzes.html
• Rhodes House, Oxford: Portrait of Cecil Rhodes
• Hertfordshire County Hall: Harts
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the son of Alfred William Hardiman, silversmith, of Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
, and his wife, Ada Myhill.
Hardiman won a London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
Scholarship to the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
in 1912, and three years later joined the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
School. After a period as an engineer's draughtsman in the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
during the war, Hardiman resumed his studies and in 1920 was awarded the Rome scholarship, spending two years at the British School at Rome
British School at Rome
The British School at Rome was established in 1901 and granted a Royal Charter in 1912 as an educational institute in the fields of archaeology, literature, music, and history of Rome and Italy of every period, and for the study of the fine arts and architecture...
. There Hardiman developed his style, a blend of naturalism and classicism influenced by Roman and Etruscan art and early fifth century Greek sculpture.
Hardiman’s best-known (but also most controversial) work is the Earl Haig Memorial
Earl Haig Memorial
The Earl Haig Memorial is a bronze equestrian statue of the British Western Front commander Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig on Whitehall in Westminster. It was created by the sculptor Alfred Frank Hardiman and commissioned by Parliament in 1928...
on Whitehall in London. More universally admired are his heraldic lions flanking the main entrance to the City Hall, Norwich
City Hall, Norwich
Norwich City Hall is an Art Deco building completed in 1938 which houses the city hall for the city of Norwich, East Anglia, in Eastern England. It is one of the Norwich 12, a collection of twelve heritage buildings in Norwich deemed of particular historical and cultural importance.Norwich City...
, a work which fully epitomises his style. He was appointed consultant sculptor on the building, having worked on the Haig Memorial with one of the architects, Stephen Rowland Pierce
Stephen Rowland Pierce
Stephen Rowland Pierce F.R.I.B.A, F.S.A. was an architect and town planning consultant. In partnership with Charles Holloway James he designed several large British public buildings, including Norwich City Hall....
. Hardiman also carved three large stone figures for the council chamber, and worked with other sculptors on the project including James Woodford
James Woodford
James Woodford was an English sculptor-Life:Woodford was born in Nottingham in 1893. His father was a lace designer. Woodford started studying at the Nottingham School of Art, but his studies were curtailed when he enlisted during the First World War. After the war, he continued his training at...
and Eric Aumonier
Eric Aumonier
-Life:Aumonier was born in Northwood, Middlesex . his family name is Huguenot . Eric's grandfather, William, founded the Aumonier Studios in 1876, an architectural sculpture firm in London, initially located at New Inn Yard off Tottenham Court Road, then at 84 Charlotte Street. His son, also called...
.
Hardiman was elected A.R.A. in 1936 and R.A. in 1944. He became a fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors in 1938 and the following year received their silver medal for his statue of Haig. In 1946 he won a gold medal for his bronze fountain figure for the New Council House, College Green, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, which however was never erected.
In 1918 he married Violet, daughter of Herbert Clifton White, of London, and had two daughters. He died at Stoke Poges
Stoke Poges
Stoke Poges is a village and civil parish in the South Buckinghamshire district of Buckinghamshire, England. It is in the south of the county, about three miles north of Slough and a mile east of Farnham Common....
17 April 1949.
Hardiman public sculptures
Earl Haig Memorial
The Earl Haig Memorial is a bronze equestrian statue of the British Western Front commander Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig on Whitehall in Westminster. It was created by the sculptor Alfred Frank Hardiman and commissioned by Parliament in 1928...
• County Hall, Westminster: Four statue groups
• St James's church, Piccadilly, London: Memorial fountain to Viscount Southwood
• Eltham Palace
Eltham Palace
Eltham Palace is a large house in Eltham, within the London Borough of Greenwich, South East London, England. It is an unoccupied royal residence and owned by the Crown Estate. In 1995 its management was handed over to English Heritage which restored the building in 1999 and opened it to the public...
, London: St George (originally at Carlos Place)
• City Hall, Norwich
City Hall, Norwich
Norwich City Hall is an Art Deco building completed in 1938 which houses the city hall for the city of Norwich, East Anglia, in Eastern England. It is one of the Norwich 12, a collection of twelve heritage buildings in Norwich deemed of particular historical and cultural importance.Norwich City...
: Two bronze heraldic lions, three statues: Recreation, Wisdom, Education
• Old St Paul's church, Edinburgh: Calvary
• Bantaskine, Falkirk: Peace
• Kippen Kirk, Stirling: Entry into Jerusalemhttp://www.fkkt.org.uk/bronzes.html
• Rhodes House, Oxford: Portrait of Cecil Rhodes
• Hertfordshire County Hall: Harts