Florence Steele facts for kids

Florence Harriet Steele (1857–1948) was a talented British artist. She was known for creating sculptures, designing beautiful objects, and working with metal.

About Florence Steele

Florence Steele was born in Reigate, England. She was the youngest of eight children. Her father, John Steele, was a local doctor.

Her Art Education

From 1892 to 1896, Florence studied art in London. She attended the National Art Training School (NATS). There, she learned from a famous sculptor named Édouard Lantéri.

Many other talented female students were with her at NATS. This school later became the Royal College of Art in 1896. While studying, Florence won several awards. She even earned a gold medal in 1894.

Starting Her Own Studio

In 1896, Florence opened her own art studio. It was located in Hammersmith, a part of west London. Soon, she became very well-known. People admired her for her Art Nouveau designs and metalwork.

Art Nouveau was a popular art style. It used flowing lines and natural shapes. Florence created many beautiful items from silver. These included jewelry, mirror frames, and small decorative boxes. She also made walking stick handles, christening cups, and special church plates.

From bronze, she created portrait medallions. These were round pieces of art with a person's face on them. She also designed sundials. Florence even made trophies and special items for British towns. These items were used in official ceremonies.

Exhibitions and Recognition

Between 1896 and 1918, Florence showed many of her artworks. About 34 of her pieces were displayed at the Royal Academy of Arts. One famous statuette was called Hero finding the body of Leander. Another was a flat sculpture (bas relief) named Dawn Dispelling Sleep and Night.

Starting in 1896, Florence also regularly exhibited her work. She showed her art with the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. Examples of her metalwork were featured in big art shows. These included the 1901 Glasgow Exhibition and the 1903 City of Bradford Exhibition.

For the city of Preston, Florence created a special silver and enamel artwork. It was a triptych, which means it had three panels. This gift was given to the Earl of Derby in 1903. He received it when he was given the freedom of the city.

Florence also designed a special chain for the Mayoress of Preston. This chain was first used in 1906. Her designs were often shown in popular art magazines. These included The Studio, the Art Journal, and the Art Workers Quarterly.

Later Works and Legacy

Florence also worked as a designer for companies. She created designs for Pilkington and Elkington & Co.. Some of her tile designs for Pilkington were shown at the Paris International Exhibition in 1900.

Her artwork was also promoted by the Art Union of London. This group made a limited number of her Dawn Dispelling Sleep and Night sculpture. These were sold to art collectors in 1910.

In 1914, she showed a medal design at the Royal Academy. This medal was for the Women's School of Medicine. In 1917, she designed a stone memorial. It was for the Weddell family in Glasgow.