William Birnie Rhind
Encyclopedia
William Birnie Rhind RSA
(1853–1933) was a Scottish sculptor.
Rhind was born in Edinburgh
as the eldest son of sculptor John Rhind
(1828–1892), and the elder brother of J. Massey Rhind
. The two brothers set up a studio in Glasgow in 1885, then Birnie moved to Edinburgh, and his brother went to Paris, then permanently to America in 1889, despite the warnings of their father.
His name is particularly connected to several dozen fine sculptural war memorials in the Edinburgh and Lothian
area. The best of these is probably the 1919 bronze figure of a fallen officer, telling his men to "carry on", which is located at Fettes College
, a private school in Edinburgh.
Royal Scottish Academy
The Royal Scottish Academy is a Scottish organisation that promotes contemporary Scottish art. Founded in 1826, as the Royal Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts, the RSA maintains a unique position in Scotland as an independently funded institution led by eminent artists and...
(1853–1933) was a Scottish sculptor.
Rhind was born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
as the eldest son of sculptor John Rhind
John Rhind (sculptor)
John Rhind ARSA was a Scottish sculptor, based in Edinburgh. He was trained under AH Ritchie.He was the father of the sculptors William Birnie Rhind and J...
(1828–1892), and the elder brother of J. Massey Rhind
J. Massey Rhind
John Massey Rhind was a Scottish-American sculptor. Among Rhind's better known works is the marble statue of Dr. Crawford W. Long located in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington D.C...
. The two brothers set up a studio in Glasgow in 1885, then Birnie moved to Edinburgh, and his brother went to Paris, then permanently to America in 1889, despite the warnings of their father.
His name is particularly connected to several dozen fine sculptural war memorials in the Edinburgh and Lothian
Lothian
Lothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills....
area. The best of these is probably the 1919 bronze figure of a fallen officer, telling his men to "carry on", which is located at Fettes College
Fettes College
Fettes College is an independent school for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh, Scotland with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus...
, a private school in Edinburgh.
Architectural sculpture
- "Virtue" panels on the memorial to the Duke of Buccleuch in front of St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, 1887
- Allegorical figures on Charing Cross Mansions, Glasgow, 1889–1891
- Pulpit and font at St Mary's Collegiate Church, Haddington 1891
- Apollo Group, sculpture on the former Sun Life Building, Glasgow, 1889–1894
- Figures of angels and apostles inside Bellevue Reformed Baptist Church, East London Street, Edinburgh, 1894
- Monument to Lord Belhaven and StentonLord Belhaven and StentonLord Belhaven and Stenton, of the County of Haddington, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1647 for Sir John Hamilton, 2nd Baronet, with remainder to his heirs male. This branch of the prominent Hamilton family descends from John Hamilton Lord Belhaven and Stenton, of the...
, Dean CemeteryDean CemeteryThe Dean Cemetery is a prominent cemetery in the Dean Village, in Edinburgh, Scotland.-Dean House:It stands on the site of Dean House , part of Dean Estate which had been purchased in 1609 by Sir William Nisbet, who became in 1616 Lord Provost of Edinburgh. The Nisbets of Dean held the office of...
, Edinburgh, 1896 - The seated figure of Science on the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumKelvingrove Art Gallery and MuseumThe Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a museum and art gallery in Glasgow, Scotland. The building houses one of Europe's great civic art collections...
, 1898 - Figures in niches on the Scottish National Portrait GalleryScottish National Portrait GalleryThe Scottish National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery on Queen Street, Edinburgh, Scotland. It holds the national collections of portraits, all of which are of, but not necessarily by, Scots. In addition it also holds the Scottish National Photography Collection...
, Edinburgh, 1898 - Sculptural figures on a large memorial in RoslinRoslinRoslin may refer to:Scotland:*Roslin, Midlothian, a village in Midlothian, south of Edinburgh, Scotland, Home to the famous Rosslyn Chapel*Roslin Castle*Roslin Institute, where Dolly the Sheep was cloned...
churchyard, 1899 - Allegorical figures on the Scotsman Building, Edinburgh, 1900 (above North Bridge Arcade)
- Figures and panel on the former National Bank of ScotlandNational Bank of ScotlandThe National Bank of Scotland Ltd. was a Scottish commercial bank. It was founded in 1825, and obtained a royal charter in 1831. It became the first Scottish bank to open a London office, in 1864...
branch, Glasgow, 1902–1903 - Last Supper panel within St Pauls Church, Lorne Street, LeithLeith-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
, 1903 - Monument to Sir Hector MacDonaldHector MacDonaldMajor-General Sir Hector Archibald MacDonald, also known as Fighting Mac , was a distinguished Victorian soldier....
, Dean CemeteryDean CemeteryThe Dean Cemetery is a prominent cemetery in the Dean Village, in Edinburgh, Scotland.-Dean House:It stands on the site of Dean House , part of Dean Estate which had been purchased in 1609 by Sir William Nisbet, who became in 1616 Lord Provost of Edinburgh. The Nisbets of Dean held the office of...
, Edinburgh, 1904 - The River Mersey, Navigation, and Commerce, with sculptor Edward O. Griffith, formerly on the Liverpool Cotton Exchange, 1905–1906
- Frieze within the old Lothian Region Chambers on George IV BridgeGeorge IV BridgeGeorge IV Bridge is an elevated street in Edinburgh, Scotland. Measuring 300-metres in length, the bridge was constructed between 1829 and 1832 as part of the Improvement Act of 1827. Named for King George IV, it was designed by architect Thomas Hamilton , to connect the South Side district of...
in Edinburgh, 1905 - Heads on corbels, CorstorphineCorstorphineCorstorphine was originally a village to the west of—and separate from—Edinburgh, Scotland, and is now a suburb of that city.Corstorphine retains a busy main street with many independent small shops, although a number have closed in recent years since the opening of several retail parks...
Old Parish Church, Edinburgh, 1905 - Science on the Armstrong Building, Newcastle, 1906
- Monument to the King's Own Scottish BorderersKing's Own Scottish BorderersThe King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...
on North Bridge, EdinburghNorth Bridge, EdinburghNorth Bridge is a road bridge and street in Edinburgh linking the High Street with Princes Street, and the New Town with the Old. The current bridge was built between 1894–97. A previous North Bridge, built from 1763–72, stood until 1896....
, 1906 - Monument of horse and rider to the Royal Scots Greys on Princes StreetPrinces StreetPrinces Street is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, and its main shopping street. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1 mile from Lothian Road in the west to Leith Street in the east. The street is mostly closed to private...
, Edinburgh, 1906 - Figures on the former R. W. Forsyth Department Store (corner of Princes StreetPrinces StreetPrinces Street is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, and its main shopping street. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1 mile from Lothian Road in the west to Leith Street in the east. The street is mostly closed to private...
and St. Andrew Street, Edinburgh, 1906 - Figure of St.Andrew on St. Andrew's Parish Church, North BerwickNorth BerwickThe Royal Burgh of North Berwick is a seaside town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately 25 miles east of Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable holiday resort in the 19th century because of its two sandy bays, the East Bay and the...
, 1907 - Monument to the Black WatchBlack WatchThe Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
for the South African War (Boer WarBoer WarThe Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
), The Mound, Edinburgh, 1908 - Ashton Building at the University of LiverpoolUniversity of LiverpoolThe University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, 1912–1914 - City Arms on the Usher HallUsher HallUsher Hall is a concert hall, situated on Lothian Road, in the west end of Edinburgh, Scotland. It has hosted concerts and events since its construction in 1914 and can hold approximately 2,900 people in its recently restored auditorium, which is well loved by performers due to its acoustics...
, Edinburgh, 1914