Gwynneth Holt facts for kids

Rose Gwynneth Cobden Holt (1909–1995) was a British artist. She was famous for her beautiful sculptures made from ivory. Many of her artworks showed religious scenes. Her most well-known sculpture is called Annunciation, which she made around 1946.

Biography

A small clay model (maquette) made by Gwynneth Holt. Artists often make these before creating a larger sculpture.

A bronze sculpture by Gwynneth Holt showing two figures.

Gwynneth Holt was born in Wednesbury, England, in 1909. She was the oldest of three sisters. When she was 16, she started studying art at the Wolverhampton School of Art. There, she learned from a teacher named Richard Emerson. She also met a fellow student, T. B. Huxley-Jones, who she later married in 1934.

Both Gwynneth and T. B. Huxley-Jones were accepted into the important Royal College of Art. However, Gwynneth could not go because her family could not afford it.

T. B. Huxley-Jones studied under Richard Garbe, who was a very skilled sculptor. Garbe worked with unusual materials like ivory and tortoiseshell. These materials were not often used by other sculptors at that time. Garbe's work greatly influenced both Gwynneth and her husband.

In 1934, T. B. Huxley-Jones became the Head of Sculpture at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, Scotland. Gwynneth and her husband lived there for twelve years. During this time, Gwynneth created her famous sculpture, Annunciation.

Gwynneth Holt made many sculptures for churches and religious buildings. These are called "ecclesiastical commissions." She also showed her art in many places. These included the Royal Society of Sculptors, the Royal Academy of Arts, and the Royal Scottish Academy. She was one of the first women to become a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors.

Even though she was successful, Gwynneth felt frustrated. She believed that the art world was mostly controlled by men. She once said that women are just as smart as men and their art is just as important. But she felt they were not given a fair chance to focus on art seriously. She explained that looking after the house often left little time for women to concentrate on their art.

Notable Works

Gwynneth Holt created many sculptures during her life. Her art can be found in different collections. For example, her bronze sculpture Bishop Gordon is at Manx National Heritage on the Isle of Man. She also made a terracotta piece called Girl Holding a Book, which is at Chelmsford Museum in Essex, England. Another work, Reverend John Finlay Rutherford, a bronze sculpture, is also at the Chelmsford Museum.

She also made sculptures for private collections. These include two pieces titled "Two figures," one in bronze and another as a clay model (maquette).