Research notes on the sculptor George Simonds by H. Goodwin Arnold

H. Godwin Arnold (1920-1999) was an architect and local historian of Reading who undertook research on the sculptor George Simonds. The papers include his research notes and a copy of his unpublished biography of Simonds. Of particular interest is a photocopy of Simonds' 'Opera or Catalogue of Works', a file of letters from Simonds, 1927-1929, and a large series of photographs, slides and photocopies of images of his sculpture.

George Blackall Simonds was born into Berkshire brewing dynasty in 1843. After the death of his elder brother he Inherited the family brewery (H & G Simonds Brewery, Reading). Aged only 15 he moved to Dresden to study sculpture under Professor Johannes Schilling in 1858. He also study under Louis Jehotte at the Academy of Brussels, before living and working for 12 years in Rome from 1864. In 1875 he returned to London and established a studio at 152 Buckingham Palace Road, moving on to Priory Studios, 21 North Bank in St John’s Wood in 1888.

H. Godwin Arnold (1920-1999) undertook research on Simonds in preparation for a biographical study.

Simonds created over 200 works in an extraordinary diversity of media and techniques, mastering; marble, bronze, plaster, terra cotta, cameo, silver, brass, wood and cast iron, including a bust of Walter Crane.

Available to all registered researchers. The Archive is open by appointment only.

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Archives Hub description created by Janette Martin. Biographical information on Simonds was obtained from the entry for 'George Blackall Simonds', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1206051288, accessed 23 Oct 2015]